Singapore bowlers win both men’s singles gold and silver at world championships

SINGAPORE – The Republic’s bowlers have claimed a one-two finish at the IBF World Bowling Championships in Kuwait on Monday.

Darren Ong beat teammate Jaris Goh 184-179, 208-164 in the men’s singles final to clinch gold, the first time a male Singaporean bowler has won the singles title at the world championships since Remy Ong’s victory in South Korea in 2006.

Ong, 27, had come from behind to beat Germany’s Tobias Bording 208-222, 224-173, 225-213 in the semi-finals, while Goh, 28, overcame Qatar’s Ghanim Aboujassoum 211-204, 248-242.

After the duo had ensured an all-Singaporean final, a jubilant Singapore Bowling president Valerie Teo posted on social media: “A new world champion, a new Singaporean world champion!

“These guys Jaris Goh and Darren Ong have done it. Won both their semis and now they have secured gold and silver!

“All-Singaporean final of the IBF World Championships Men’s Singles!! Woohoo! And congrats to the whole village and team behind them!”

At the Kuwait Bowling Sporting Club in Salmiya, the bowlers had to be on their toes from the get-go. Only the group winners qualified for the second round, with Ong and Goh topping their respective six-man pools.

The second round followed a similar format, and the duo could not afford to slip up. Ong, who was tied on points with United Arab Emirates’ Sultan Ql Qubaisi, had to rely on a roll-off to progress to the semi-finals with Goh, Aboujassoum and Bording.

Ong, who had won his first individual international title in the Philippine International Open in May, was still in shock after his latest win, saying: “I think it hasn’t quite sunk in yet. I do want to thank my team, especially Jaris, who I bowled against in the final.

“I knew Remy was the last world champion for sure, but I didn’t know how long (ago) it was. I don’t really want to compare anything, I think it’s a different generation of bowlers now. If it wasn’t me, it would have been Jaris today.”

Goh was just happy that a Singaporean won, and it did not matter who got the gold in the end.

He said: “It has been a very cut-throat tournament for everybody, I’ve been really lucky to make it all the way.

“As long as Singapore wins, I think it is the most important thing, because somebody’s got to lose.”

Senior national assistant coach Vincent Lim was delighted with the achievement, saying: “We gain lessons every day from the lanes, knowing what we need to do.

“It takes a whole kampung to build this team because they have been through many coaches and I am just fortunate to be part of their journey in these world championships.”

While the gold and silver medals were an affirmation of their training and preparation, Ong cautioned that “a good day doesn’t mean that tomorrow will be the same”, with the doubles, trios and team categories to come.