Double joy as S’pore claim girls’ and boys’ singles titles at Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling C’ships
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Aiman Lim (left) clinched the boys' singles title at the Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships on Aug 22, while Hazel Tan won gold in the girls' singles event.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE BOWLING FEDERATION
Follow topic:
- Hazel Tan won Singapore's first girls' singles gold since 1985 at the Asian Youth Championships with 1,328 pinfalls, overcoming a slow start.
- Aiman Lim secured the boys' singles gold, Singapore's first since 1999, with 1,436 pinfalls, attributing his win to team effort.
- Coaches highlighted mental strength and teamwork as crucial to the victories, praising the athletes' growth and composure under pressure.
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SINGAPORE – After an adjustment period following her promotion from the national development squad to the national training squad in 2025, Singapore bowler Hazel Tan made a major breakthrough on Aug 22 by winning the girls’ singles gold at the Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships.
Despite a modest start with just 178 pinfalls in the opening game at the Sunway Mega Lanes in Petaling Jaya, the 18-year-old rallied impressively over the next five games.
She finished with a 1,328-pinfall total to claim the title ahead of South Korea’s Paek Ye-dam (1,297) and Malaysian Qurratu Ain Izdihar Mohd Pozi (1,293).
There was added significance to the teenager’s victory, which was Singapore’s first in the girls’ singles event since former world champion Adelene Wee won it in 1985.
“I did not have high expectations heading into this competition, but I knew I definitely wanted to bring home a medal for Singapore,” said Tan, a Republic Polytechnic student under a programme with the Singapore Sports School.
“It is truly an honour to bring home a gold medal for girls’ singles after such a long period.”
It is not Tan’s first taste of success on the international stage.
In 2024, she was the girls’ open champion at the Milo Storm Under-22 International Junior All-Stars Bowling Championships.
She also finished runner-up in the girls’ masters at the Asian Junior Tenpin Bowling Championships after she was beaten by compatriot Ashley Lok in the gold-medal match.
These experiences have helped hone her skills in competition, translating to better performances on the lanes.
She said: “I believe competing on the international stage has allowed me to get more exposure to high pressure situations, which has definitely helped me with managing my nerves to continue to perform under pressure.
“I think this came into good use during my last game when I was trying to maintain score.”
The other Singaporean girls competing were Shirlene Wong (fourth, 1,290), Lim Shi En (11th, 1,244) and Nur Irdina Hazly (15th, 1,194).
National assistant coach Faizal Chew believes Tan’s win was a result of working on her mental game, which he said was crucial on Aug 22 as she maintained her composure despite the slow start.
He said: “It’s a proud moment for Team Singapore to finally bring home the singles gold after so many years.
“Hazel’s victory is a reflection of the tremendous growth she has shown, both physically and mentally.
“I’m also very proud of the team’s spirit throughout this campaign. The girls share a natural bond, having come through (the Singapore) Sports School together, and that support made a real difference in helping Hazel and the team perform at their best.”
The joy was doubled later that day, as Aiman Lim bagged the boys’ singles crown, a first for Singapore since Lim Zhong achieved the feat on home soil in 1999.
Aiman, 20, knocked down 1,436 pinfalls to beat South Korean Bae Su-hyeon (1,422) and Qatar’s Talal Al Marri (1,400) to the title.
The Year 3 Temasek Polytechnic student said: “It feels great, I think this is a great stepping stone towards the team event. As this is a team effort and the gold for team event would mean more to me...
“It was the team effort, along with the coaches that brought me the win today. Without their support, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
The other Singaporean boys taking part were 2023 joint bronze medallist Mike Ong (15th, 1,311), Jayden See (24th, 1,262) and Brian Ngoi (51st, 1,088).
The tournament will end on Aug 27, with the boys’ and girls’ doubles, team, all events and masters champions yet to be crowned.
National assistant coach Ken Tan hailed Aiman’s accomplishment as the crowning moment of his youth career as he competes in his final Asian youth meet, with this year’s edition open only to bowlers born on or after Jan 1, 2005.
He said: “This victory stands as validation of the countless sacrifices he has made to balance the demands of academics and the rigour of elite training.
“What set him apart were the intangibles like his composure under pressure, his ability to adapt, his sharp aptitude, and his relentless tenacity. These qualities carried him to the top of the podium.
“I could not be prouder of Aiman, having witnessed every step of his journey. This triumph is not the finish line, but the beginning of even greater opportunities, a springboard to higher levels and tougher arenas.”
