Singaporean wins Youth Open title
19th March, K.Lumpur: Asian Intercity two gold medalist, New Hui Fen of Singapore took a narrow victory in the Milo International Youth Girl's Open titles of the Canon 32nd Malaysian International Open on Thursday morning. Jacqueline Sijore of Malaysia set the early pace and by the sixth game, was just 2 pins ahead of compatriot, Dayang Khairuniza in second. Singapore's New Hui Fen was down in mid-field with her team-mate Anthea Soh closer to the leading duo.
Khairuniza took over the running after the eighth game and was triled by Anthea 41 pins adrift. Hui Fen fired 279 to draw nearer to the leading pack. Another sizzling 269 in the ninth and a 204 in her final game sealed the victory for Hui Fen.
"I'm so happy to win my first major youth open international title," said the delighted 17-year-old New Hui Fen. "I'm also hopeful that this victory will help me get a spot in the Asian Youth Games which Singapore will be hosting.
"My coach, Francis reminded me to move further out to the right as the lanes got drier and it worked well for me. I got more and more comfortable toward the end especially after the two massive games.
The champion, who bagged two gold medals in the Asian Intercity Championship in Macau in November and won the Penang Pesta Under-16 title in December, claimed her first Open title with a total of 2202.
Jacqueline and Khairuniza were disappointed to finish second and third with 2181 and 2143 respectively despite looking certain of the 1-2 finish in the early stages. Anthea Soh finished fourth with 2115 with Khrisna Darshini completing the top 5.
National youth from Sarawak, Aris Ardila set the early pace in the first two games of the 10-game finals with Perak's Muhammad Amin Razak in second, 19 pins adrift. But the lead was short-lived after Singapore's Basil Low, who scored the tournament's fourth perfect game, took over the running albeit only 4 pins ahead of Aris.
Two scintilating back-to-back games of 258 and 280 shot another national youth, Rodson Tong Juinn Chuan into the front of the pack with a margin of 53 pins trailed by the consistent Sarawakian, Aris.
Rodson's lead came under threat when his team-mate, Aris shot a superb 279 in the eighth game to reduce the gap to just 8 pins. But Rodson kept his cool to fire home 244 and 220 in the last two games to come away victorious with a total of 2333.
Aris settled for second despite posting 220 and 214 in his last two games ending with 2295 while Muhammad Amin Razak gave Malaysia a 1-2-3 finish in third with 2255. Justin Lim Chun Lian of Singapore and antoher Malaysian national youth, Khoo Khai Beng rounded the top 5.
Apart from the trophies and Milo hampers that the winners have won, the champions will also be awarded Azimuth watches each.
Photos by Terence for SBF.