Doubles delight for Singapore at Asian Junior Tenpin Bowling Championships

SINGAPORE – Aviel Chua marked a debut to remember at the Asian Junior Tenpin Bowling Championships when he made history with a perfect game en route to winning the boys’ doubles gold on June 19.

Despite his inexperience, the Singapore bowler kept his nerves in check to knock down 12 strikes in a row during the third game as he and Joshua Soo amassed a total of 2,585 pinfalls across six games.

It was enough to edge out the Qatari pair Talal Al Marri and Ibrahim Al Moreikhi by a mere 14 pinfalls at Sunway Mega Lanes in Petaling Jaya, where the Singapore girls’ doubles teams claimed a one-two finish on June 19.

It was the first time a Singaporean bowler had achieved the perfect game at the competition since Iliya Syamim and Daphne Oh during the girls’ Masters finals at the 2014 edition, when it was known as the Asian School Bowling Championships.

An ecstatic Chua, who scored 1,363 pinfalls, told The Straits Times: “I definitely didn’t expect (the perfect game) as anything could’ve happened.

“I just made sure I was on target every shot I threw.

“This is not my first perfect game, although it is my first in a major tournament.”

“The last few shots were pretty nerve-racking, but coach Jensen (Lim) helped me refocus myself on making the shots,” added the 18-year-old.

This was the first time the duo paired up in doubles and it proved to be third-time lucky for Soo in his third appearance at the annual event.

Soo, 18, said: “I’m feeling absolutely thrilled and grateful. It is a culmination of all my work over the last year. We have a pretty harmonious relationship on the lanes. He is a fantastic partner.

“The game has changed a lot in the past three years. The level of competition is noticeably higher.”

In the girls’ doubles competition, debutantes Jean Neo and Isabelle Wee scored 2,454 pinfalls to clinch Singapore’s fourth gold medal at the tournament, pipping compatriots Ella Tan and Hazel Tan by just eight pinfalls.

Neo, 18, said : “It feels like all my training and sacrifices had paid off at that moment. What I’m most proud of is the attitude of the Singapore team as a whole, where we all tried to hype each other up and stay positive, no matter if we are playing good or bad.

“Personally, I was not paying attention to the score because I didn’t want it to get in my head. But I think it was pretty close, as it came down to Isabelle’s spare on the last frame.”

Wee, 17, added: “It’s definitely very surreal winning the doubles gold for Singapore because it’s my first time at this tournament and the training leading up to this was tough. I’m very proud of the synergy both Jean and I displayed today.”

The title marked a big leap for Neo and Wee, who finished 24th and 25th respectively in the girls’ singles a day earlier, when Nura Salsabila Zulkifli beat fellow Singaporean Ella Tan to the title.

Said Neo: “It’s a good comeback for both of us. I’m happy that we both didn’t let a bad day affect us. I changed my game a little bit, and it ended up working very well in the end.”

Singapore’s other boys’ doubles pairs in Malaysia were singles champion Mark Leong and Rayden Lim (fifth), Titus Tan and Wilfred Er (15th), and Jayden Too and Ian Tay (16th).

Their compatriots Nura and Ashley Lok finished sixth, while Ashley Thia and Tan Rui Lin were 10th in the girls’ doubles.