Singaporean denied victory
9th June, Hong Kong: Top seed, Jazreel Tan of Singapore was denied victory at the 38th Hong Kong International Open after she lost to challenger, Esther Cheah of Malaysia twice in the stepladder finals at HK Bowling City on Saturday. Jazreel Tan, who advance into the stepladder finals after leading the Women’s Open Masters Stage 2 finals earlier, rolled a double and a turkey in her first match against challenger and third-seed, Esther Cheah of Malaysia.
But Cheah struck six times to take the match, 242-225 forcing the Singaporean national bowler into the second decider.
Tan did well to roll a turkey from frame 2 and another turkey from frame 7 to end the match 235 while her opponent sent on a strikefest reeling in four-in-a-row from the start of the second match and struck home to take the match and the title, 267-235.
“I had finished second so many times I can’t remember how it feels to win,” said the 23-year-old Jazreel Tan, whose last title came in the 2009 Malaysian Open. “I bowl well in the earlier round but Esther was exceptional in the stepladder finals.”
“I’ll take this defeat to make myself work even harder and I’m sure a victory will eventually come my way,” added Tan, who settled for HK$14,000 (approx. S$2,300) while Esther picked up HK$22,000 (approx. S$3,600) for her victory.
The champion, who was seeded third, ousted second-seed and team-mate, Shalin Zulkifli and winner of the first stepladder match, Joey Yip, 235-185-191 to meet Tan in the finals.
Yip took the first match beating fourth-seed, Zatil Iman and sixth-seed, Yap Seok KIm of Singapore, 224-180-213 to advance into the second match.
Defending champion, Shayna Ng missed the stepladder finals by 8 pins after she finished the earlier Stage 2 finals in eighth position. Putty Armein of Indonesia finished seventh and missed by 6 pins.
Meanwhile top seed, Fahad Al-Emadi of Qatar had to work hard for his first international title beating challenger, 229-193 in the second decider. The Qatari lost the first match to second-seed, Hussain Al Suwaidi of UAE, 204-214.
Hussain ousted third-seed, Muhd Nur Aiman of Malaysia and winner of the first match, Lee Tak Man of Macau, 238-210-214. Lee took the first match against fourth-seed, Mohamed Janahi of Bahrain and fifth-seed, Wicky Yeung of Hong Kong, 214-152-180 in the first stepladder match.
Fahad won HK$55,000 (approx. S$(9,100) as champion while Hussain settled for HK$22,000 (approx. S$3,600) as first runner-up. Aiman earned HK$14,000 (approx. S$2,300) as second runner-up.
Hong Kong’s only hope was Eric Tseng but he too missed the stepladder cut by 5 pins for finishing seventh position. Stage 1 leader, Wu Siu Hong finished a disappointing 15th position.
Detailed scores: Women’s Open Stepladder | Men’s Open Stepladder | Photo Album.Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.