World champion vying for title

31st May, Singapore: Reigning World Cup champion, Jasmine Yeong-Nathan will be vying for the Women's crown of the 42nd Singapore International Open after an impressive effort to take up second spot on Sunday. Jasmine Yeong-Nathan, who just turned 21 last month, raised a few eyebrows after she upstaged some of the best women bowlers in the world to become the first Singapore women to capture the coveted AMF World Cup in Mexico in November last year.

She was given a hero's welcome on her return to Singapore. Naturally, with such a hugh victory, Jasmine bagged the Sportswomen Award of the Year.

Continuing to lead the women's qualifying table was Daphne Tan with a score of 984 with Jasmine second with 982. 2008 Asean University two gold medalist, Kristel Oh moved up to third after she posted an impressive 898.   Four-time Malaysian national champion, Shalin Zulkifli shot to the front of the overseas pool with a superb 918 relegating team-mate, Zandra Aziela into second spot with 899. Last year's World Ranking Masters champion, Wendy Chai improved to third with 846. Singapore's national youth, Gregory Gan also maintained his pole position in the men's division with 974 followed by season campaigner, Andrew Lee in second with 947. Early leader, Jaime Liew settled for third with 945.

Former national champion, Helmi Chew and Ng Tiac Pin took fourth and fifth spots with 937 and 934 respectively while Bahrain Open champion, Remy Ong and 2006 national champion, David Wong finished sixth and seventh positions.

UAE national bowlers, Naif Oqab and Shaker Al-Hassan dominated by occupying the top two spots in the overseas pool and with defending champion, Hussain Al-Suwaidi, the trio will certainly be strong contenders for the men's crown.   With foreign bowlers from Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand arriving today and tomorrow, the the competition will intensify and forces the scores to go higher.

Qualifying continue through to June 4 and the Masters finals over two blocks of 8 games will be staged on May 5 and 6. The top 6 women and top 6 men at the end of the finals will advance into the stepladder finals.

  Photos by Terence Yaw for SBF.