Top spot for Singapore girl
5th July, Singapore: Doubles Gold medalist, Darshini Krishna of Singapore stormed home in the final game of the Girl's Masters first block finals of the 1st Asian Youth Games 2009 to snatch top spot on Sunday. Two gold medalist and hot favourite, New Hui Fen started her campaign with a cracking pace by winning her first match with 233 in the 8-game round-robin matchplay finals but had to share the lead with Chinese Taipei's Chang Yu-Hsuan.
But Hui Fen won her next two matches to stay in front and stretched her lead to 74 pins from Filipina, Madeline Llmas followed by Japan's Misaki Mukotani and fellow-compatriot, Darshini Krishna in third and fourth.
Despite losing her fourth match, Hui Fen was able to retain the lead after she posted 201 but found her lead drastically reduced to 10 pins from another Japanese, Shinobu Saito closing the gap.
Disaster struck the 17-year-old Singapore leader as she could only manage 169 and 179 in her fifth and sixth matches giving up her lead to Korea's Oh Nu-Ri. The Korean held the lead after the seventh match being pursuit by Mukotani and Darshini sharing second spot, 20 pins adrift.
Darshini stormed home by winning the last two matches with two sizzling 278 and 258 to snatch the top spot with a total of 1742. Sim Ui-Jin finished stronger of the two Koreans to take up second with 1732 while Oh settled for third with 1693.
"Although I only won three matches, the two high games towards the end helped to finish ahead," said Darshini Krishna, who partnered Hui Fen to win the Girl's Doubles gold on the second day of the competition.
"I'd have been happy to finish in the top 3 but to lead the field is indeed satisfying. I'll have to work harder tomorrow to remain where I'm and that's exactly what I intend to do."
New Hui Fen ended up in eighth position with a total of 1617, 125 pins from Darshini and 76 pins from third spot. "Hui Fen encountered a bad patch and I guessed she tired off a bit especially after the three days of the championship and the intensity of the competition," said coach William Woo.
"I'm sure she will recover tomorrow and try to make up grounds. After winning two gold medals, much is expected of her to perform."
"My right thigh was hurting before the start this morning and I had a low game," said the 17-year-old Sim Ui-Jin, who won a gold and two silver medals in the Asian Schools Championship in Hong Kong this year. "I need to have a good rest tonight and hopefully I'll be fitter tomorrow."
The girls will resume their second block of 8 games on Monday morning followed by the boys in the afternoon. The top 3 girls and top 3 boys will advance to the stepladder finals for the final two gold medals.
Photos by Terence Yaw for SBF.