World-class Singaporeans for world meet

19th July, Kaohsiung: World Champion, Remy Ong of Singapore certainly has the credentials to challenge for medals at the World Games Kaohsiung 2009 which will be underway on Monday at the Happy Bowling Center. Remy Ong, the bowling icon for many aspiring youngster in Singapore, first gained international acclamation when he became the only Singaporean to bag three gold medals in the Busan Asian Games in 2002.

Ong achieved the astonishing feat by winning the opening Singles gold then followed it up with the Trios event and upstaged the Korean and Malaysian powerhouses to bag the coveted Masters Gold medal.

He almost became a world champion but had to contend with a third-plae finish in the 2004 World Ranking Masters. Winner of multiple international titles in 2004 and 2005, Ong sprang another unexpected and outstanding outing at the World Championship in 2006.   The 31-year-old won the Singles Gold medal in a record-breaking scoreline which also gave him his second gold medal in the All Events. Undoubtedly, the Singaporean has all the credentials to challenge some of the world-class bowlers who have been assembled at Kaohsiung.

Ong's partner in the opening event, the Mixed Doubles is Jennifer Tan, the most senior and experienced national women kegler. A winner of multiple titles at international open championships and games level, Tan will add stability to the partnership.

A total of 23 nations minus Puerto Rico which pulled out a few days agao, will field one male and one female for the three-day competition comprising of Mixed Doubles and Singles. The Mixed Doubles will kick off the championship on Monday morning.

The teams will play 6 games and the top 3 teams at the end of the block will advance into the semifinals. Second-seed will play third-seed over one game for total pinfalls and the winning team will advance into the finals against the topseed.

Two-games total pinfall in the finals will determine the gold and silver medalist while the loser of the first match will take home the bronze.

Some of the world-class bowlers such as top European ranked, Osku Palermaa of Finland will Krista Pollanen in the doubles and will face strong challenges from Germany's Achim Grabowski and Patricia Luoto. Great Britain's Darren Cundy is paired with Zara Glover while World Champion, Tore Togersen is paired with his spouse and former Thai national Patcharin. Former World Tenpin Masters champion, Guy Caminsky partners Gay Mack for South Africa. Asia's challenge will come from two-time Asian Ranked No. 1, Wu Siu Hong and 2008 Asian Ranked No. 1 women, Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong. Asian Champion, Chester King teamed up with multiple open title champion, Liza Del Rosario of the Philippines while Asia powerhouse Korea has World champion, Gye Min-Young and Kong Byoung-Hee will surely be strong favourites.

The strongest pair from the America will undoubtedly be multiple PBA titles and World champion, Chris Barnes who will be paired with Stephanie Nation representing USA.

The Singles for men and women, which will be contested on Tuesday, comprise of two 6-games block and the top 10 from a total of 18 games (6 in the mixed doubles and 12 in the singles) will make the cut for another 10-game Singles matchplay round-robin from scratch on Wednesday.   The top 3 at the end of the round-robin Singles will advance into the semifinals and finals. Again, the second-seed will play the third-seed in a one-game matchplay style and the winner will advance to meet the topseed for a two-game total pinfalls to determine the champion.

Meanwhile, the team managers' meeting was held earlier this morning where chaired by tournament manager and ABF Vice President, Danny Santos. He is assisted by Singapore's William Woo, who is the technical official dressing the lanes.

Mr Chen Tong-Hui, President of the Chinese Taipei Bowling Association, is appointed the technical delegate with EBF President and FIQ secretary general, Adie Ophelders, PABCON President, Jose Guandique and ABF Exco member, Takaya Aizawa of Japan as Jury of Appeal.

The format of play, confirmation of players and lane draws were conducted during the meeting which lasted almost two hours.

Detailed information: Participating Countries | Participants. Photos by Terence Yaw in Kaohsiung.