SEA Games 2025: S’pore bowler Charmaine Chang strikes gold in women’s singles

BANGKOK – The Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl in Ratchayothin has served up two birthday gifts for Singapore bowler Charmaine Chang.

In July, Chang won her first international individual title, the Thailand Open, there on her 26th birthday.

And on Dec 15, the lucky venue was where she claimed gold in the SEA Games women’s singles event to give her mother Agnes Tan, who celebrated her birthday a day earlier, “a little present”.

The Games debutante beat Malaysia’s Natasha Roslan 234-191 pinfalls in the final to clinch top spot, while teammate Colleen Pee won the joint-bronze with Indonesia’s Sharon Limansantoso.

“I have ups and downs with this location… It’s a good feeling, but anything can happen,” said Chang.

“I guess that’s where the luck came in. I won the Thai Open on my birthday and yesterday was my mum’s birthday.

“I don’t really see her on her birthday often because coincidentally (it) falls during competition period. For her to see me win so close to her birthday was a good experience and I’m very thankful that I can give her this little present.”

Pee said: “I don’t think it’s very sad losing out to my teammate, because I feel that we do really fight our hardest. When CC (Chang) won, I feel like it’s a proud moment, because actually Team Singapore is the one winning.”

The contest was far from easy for Chang, who managed to sneak into the quarter-finals only after qualifying eighth in the morning’s preliminary round with 1,230 pinfalls in six games. Pee (1,263) was fifth.

All four Singaporeans struggled in the earlier games, with Nur Irdina Hazly (1,155) and Arianne Tay (1,140) placing 16th and 18th out of 20 respectively.

Chang added: “If you see my qualifying scores, I was struggling to find the pocket to get the strikes in.

“My opponents had really great carries during the qualifying rounds. For me to get all the way to the final was great.”

In the top eight, Pee beat Thailand’s Chawakorn Wutti 204-196 in the one-round matchup, while Chang dispatched the Philippines’ top qualifier Marian Lara Posadas 234-209.

Drawn against each other in the semi-finals, the Singaporean duo were neck and neck after posting three consecutive strikes and tying on 109 after five frames.

Ultimately, it was Chang who prevailed 244-234 to set up a finale with second seed Natasha, who beat Santoso 214-207.

In the final, both Chang and Natasha started slowly. They were level until the Malaysian fell behind in the seventh frame.

Four consecutive strikes then sealed the title for Chang, sparking wild celebrations from the Singaporean supporters in the stands.

The sport last featured at the biennial Games in the 2021 edition in Vietnam, where the Republic’s

Cherie Tan and New Hui Fen clinched gold and bronze

in the women’s singles respectively.

Singapore Bowling Federation president Valerie Teo noted that the squad’s gold and bronze in Thailand proved that their decision to send their youngsters to the Games – instead of their more senior bowlers – paid off.

“We have eight athletes competing for their first SEA Games and I think they really showed up,” said Teo.

“Past championships are past championships and every championship is a new start.

“Yesterday we had four men all finishing in the top eight, but due to the format, only two moved on to the quarter-finals. Today, it was really nice to see Colleen and Charmaine fight it out.

“Every Games is a fresh start, but it’s a good signal that even with our debutants, there is depth in our team and we’re headed in the right direction.

“I hope that they will ride this momentum and continue to do well for the rest of the Games.”

The bowling competition continues on Dec 16 with the men’s doubles, followed by the women’s doubles (Dec 17), and men’s and women’s team of four on Dec 18 and 19.