SINGAPORE - They came into the SEA Games bowling competition as heavy favourites and Singapore's female team asserted their authority on the opening day of the tournament.
Leading the way was Daphne Tan, who captured the gold medal in the women's singles on Tuesday with a score of 1,368 pinfalls, followed by teammate Jazreel Tan in second place with 1,313 pinfalls.
Compatriot Cherie Tan, older sister of Daphne, was third with a score of 1,294 but the bronze medal went to Malaysian Esther Cheah, who managed 1,291 pinfalls.
This is because of a regulation set in the SEA Games technical handbook which states that competitors from a single National Olympic Council may not win more than two individual event medals if both the team and individual events are conducted at the same time.
In a show of dominance by the Republic's keglers, Shayna Ng (1,288 pinfalls), New Hui Fen (1,278) and Bernice Lim (1,245) finished fifth, sixth and 10th respectively in the 34-women field at Orchid Bowl.
Malaysia's Rafiq Ismail claimed the men's singles event with 1,308 pinfall, just three ahead of second-placed Annop Arromsaranon from Thailand. Singapore's Javier Tan finished a credible third with 1,284 pinfalls.
The bowling competition continues on Wednesday with the doubles event.
