Singapore women in the hunt for a medal
25th September, Hong Kong: After drawing blanks in the first three events, Singapore women finally turned in a promising display by finishing third in the Women’s 5-player Team first block at the Target 24th Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships on Sunday.
Singapore had won two silver and two bronze medals in the last four championships and was confident of doing well in the team event. Joey Yeo, Geraldine Ng, Jasmine Yeong-Nathan, Bernice Lim and Daphne Tan shared third spot with reigning champion, Korea in their opening game of 1000.
Philippines took the early lead with 1007, just one pin ahead of Malaysia’s Syaidatul Afifah, Victoria Chin, Shalin Zulkifli and the Doubles gold medallist pair of Esther Cheah and Sin Li Jane.
Chinese Taipei shot the highest second game of 1081 to put themself in contention as Korea’s Jung Da Wun, Baek Seung Ja, Hong Hae Ni, Son Hye Rin and Jeon Eun Hee took over the running with 1032 while Singapore added 993 to stay in third.
Another consistent game from the Korean women put them in pole position at the end of the first block with 3084. Malaysia shot slightly higher with 1058 to claim second position with 3049 while Singapore ended with 985 for third on a team total of 2978.
Singapore team in a promising position
There was less than 100 pins seprating the top three teams and with the second block of another three games to bowl tomorrow afternoon, Singapore looks promising.
Meanwhile, Japan topped the men’s division when Tomoyuki Sasaki, Yuhi Shinbata, Takuya Miyazawa, Shogo Wada and Shusaku Asato posted 992, 1126 and 1085 to snatch the top spot from Korea with 3203. Host nation, Hong Kong had set the early pace in their opening game but fizzled off in their next two games.
Korea’s Kang Hee Won, Kim Kyung Min, Cha In Ho, Hong Hae Sol and Park Jong Woo knocked down 1018, 1133 and 1014 to settle for second with 3165.
Australia’s George Frilingos, Jayden Leming, Ahsley Warren, Lachland Merchant and Sam Cooley totalled 3128 for third position while Chinese Taipei and UAE rounded out the top five with 3118 and 3107 respectively.
Championship debutants, Timothy Tan, Norman Cai, Jonovan Neo together with Brandan Tan and Muhd Jaris Goh started off well with 1004 but dropped their pace slighly with 965 in their second game. The fought back with 1068 in the third game to finish in eighth with 3037.
Singapore men has a lot of work to do in the next block
A 171 pins deficit from the leader is not massive and can be reduced. Singapore is only 98 pins behind third-placed Australia, so a medal appears realistic if they could put together a better second block performance.
The only time Singapore finished in the podium of the team event was back in 1998 when they won the bronze medal. The women won silver in 2015, 2012 and bronze in 2011, 2008.
Detailed scores: Women’s Team Block 1 | Men’s Team Block 1 | Photo Album.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.