Nur Syazwani-Gillian win girls doubles gold

KUCHING: Malaysia’s Nur Syazwani Sahar-Gillian Lim and Singapore’s Jomond Chia-Brandon Ong respectively won the girls and boys doubles gold medals at the 20th Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships yesterday.

Both pairs dominated the rounds consistently throughout the competition and rarely slipped up as they held on to win the championship for their respective teams and countries.

The Malaysia pair of Syazwani-Lim posted 2,513 pins to lead in the girls division in the earlier rounds while Chia-Ong of Singapore led from the beginning in the boy’s division

Philippines’ pair of Kenzo Umali and singles gold medallist, Merwin Tan set the pace early to lead the first two games but Chia and Ong’s consistent play allowed them to overcome the initial leaders midway through the rounds.

Chia and Ong also had to overcome Malaysia’s pair of Shahrukh Amin and Muhammad Syazirol who took over the running after the third game with the Filipinos slipping down to second.

The Malaysians kept the competition with Chia and Ong close with consistent games of 405, 416, 402, 437 and 403 going into the final game and needing about 407 to overhaul the Singaporeans but missed out with 14 pins short of the win. Malaysians Nevern Marcellinus and Muhammad Hafiz blew passed the initial leaders to take second to Singapore while the pair of Shahrukh and Syazirol finished third.

In the girls division, South Korea’s second pair of Shin Hyebin and Jeong Yeri literally led from start to finish to share the lead with Macau’s Chan Hei Lo and So Cheng Lam for a brief spell in the third game.

However, the Malaysians surge and consistency were too much for the Koreans to keep up with but they still ended strongly to clinch the silver medal with 2,389 and Singapore’s pair of Charmaine Chang and Amabel Chua took the bronze with 2,354.

Twins Nurul Alyssa and Nurul Ayunni from Malaysia put up a brave fight only to miss the podium by just 58 pins to end up in fourth overall but are certainly a team to watch out for in future.