Singapore women chase elusive gold

Singapore women chase elusive gold

19th November, Guangzhou: Singapore's Cherie Tan, Geraldine Ng and Shayna Ng set course to bring home bowling's first gold when they trailed leader, Korea in the Women's Trios first block at the 16th Asian Games. Singles bronze medalist, New Hui Fen led her team-mates, Jasmine Yeong-Nathan and Jazreel Tan to an impressive 684 opening game to share third spot with the Philippines as Malaysia's seasoned campaigner, Sharon Koh-Esther Cheah-Shalin Zulkifli combination led with 727.

The second Singapore trio of Cherie Tan-Geraldine Ng-Shayna Ng had a slow start with 648 but was within striking distance of the leading pack.

China's Doubles bronze medalist, Yang Suling and Zhang Yu Hong teamed up with Chen Dong Dong to take over the lead after two good games of 707 and 685 as the Malaysian trio slipped back to second.   The limelight was stolen by Cherie-Geraldine-Shayna when they registered the highest single game of 735 to snatch second spot with 2011 as Korea's Hwang Sun Ok-Choi Jin A-Son Jun Hee underlined their dominance to take pole with 2051. Japan's Misaki Mukotani-Maki Nakano and Kanako Ishimine clinched third spot with 2008 ahead of the fading Malaysian and China in fourth and fifth spots with 1991 and 1975 respectively.

The other Singapore trio ended in a respectable eighth position with 1869. Shayna shot 708, Geraldine 670 and Cherie 633 while Hui Fen downed 626, Jasmine 578 and Jazreel 665 three-game series.

In the Men's Trios played earlier, Singapore men were less impressive. Ng Tiac Pin-Benjamin Lim-Mark Wong combination netted only a 21st place finish with 1805. Basil Low-Jasmine Yeong Nathan-Remy Ong trio finished 24th with 1778.   After firing blanks, the Korean men signalled their return with a one-two finish in the first block. Choi Bok Eum-Choi Yong Kyu-Jang Dong Chul topped the field with 2053, 69 pins ahead of Hong Hae Sol-Cho Young Seon-Suh Sang Cheon combination, who totaled 1984.

Qatar took third spot ahead of game one leader Hong Kong in fourth and Chinese Taipei rounding up the top 5.

The women will resume their second block later at 1.30pm local time after the men complete their second block of 3 games over the short oil pattern on Saturday morning.   Detailed scores: Women's Trios Block 1 | Men's Trios Block 1. Photos by Terence Yaw in Guangzhou.