13th February, Hong Kong: Friday 13th was a perfect day for Singapore's Valerie Teo Hui Ying when the 19 year-old rolled a record-breaking 300 game to clinch the Gold medal with partner Michelle Kwang Tien Mei at the 12th Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships this afternoon.

The Malaysian duo of Choy Poh Lai and Zandra Aziela had dominated the lead from the beginning of today's second block of the Girls Doubles but the Singapore bowlers were on fire, coming from 55 pins behind in the eleventh game to post a stunning win with a 42 pin margin. Korea's Nam Bo Ra and Choi Gui Hyun could not match the frenetic pace of the Singapore and Malaysian bowlers this afternoon, settling for the Bronze, 280 pins behind the victorious Singapore girls.

Unfazed by a 151 opening game, Michelle Kwang Tien Mei and Valerie Teo Hui Ying blitzed High Game scores in each of the following five games that were bowled on Long Oil this afternoon, with the perfect game crowing their success. "It's fantastic…they worked very hard - Valerie was so determined - I love her spirit," said Singapore Tenpin Bowling Congress President, Jessie Phua, beaming after the win.

Valerie described the game as the "toughest game of my life". Yesterday, in the Singles event, she had endured the disappointment of leading throughout, only to be overtaken in the final game by Korea's Nam Bo Ra. "She had a point to make," said Coach Pat Henry this afternoon. "They were more than 250 off the pace at the start of the block - it was pretty impressive," he added.

National Team Head Coach for Malaysia, Chris Batson, was philosophic about the medal outcome. "They were unlucky to be overtaken after leading right up to the last game... but that's bowling - it's a sport," he said.

Medal presentations for both the Boys and Girls Doubles events are currently underway on the lanes at SCAA Bowling Centre, with play resuming tomorrow at 9am for the Teams event in both divisions.

Further information regarding the Championships can be obtained from Irene Chung of the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress Ltd, Tel: +852 2891 9786, Fax: +852 2575 2145 or email hktbc@netvigator.com.

For further information, please contact Ms Lynne Clay, ABF Media Director at Tel: +61 419 444 280 or email lynne.clay@tenpin.org.au.

Newsflash by Lynne Clay and photos courtesy of Hussien Sayad.

13th February, Hong Kong: In a thrilling close finish, Kuwait's Basil Al Enezi and Hussain Mohhamad withstood the charge by the Australian pair of Brandon Qualischefski and Matthew O'Brien to seize a Gold medal win by just four pins. The excitement and noisy barracking of each team's supporters grew to near frenzy as the Aussie pair made a run on the 110 pin lead held by the Kuwaiti duo going into the final game.

"This is what bowling's all about!" exclaimed Kegel's Don Agent as the action unfolded in the final frames.

It was a historic win by the Kuwait bowlers - the first Gold medal in Asian Zone Championships. ABF Vice President, Sheik Talal lead the exuberant congratulations on the lanes following their win. Within minutes, the Sheik had broken the joyous news by phone to the President of the Kuwait Olympic Committee and the President of the Youth Council of Kuwait.

The heart-stopping finish had seen five teams in medal contention, with Malaysia's Mohd Nadri bin Muhamed Noor and Adrian Ang missing the Bronze by just seven pins. Adrian Ang posted the event's second highest average overall with a solid 221.5 performance.

Brandon Qualischefski took the series honours on this morning's Long Oil condition, shooting 1478, 43 pins more than Thailand's Sithiphol Kunaksorn, and giving him an overall average of 228.5 for the Doubles event. His Doubles performance has seen Qualischefski, 2003 AMF World Cup representative, shoot into second place in the All Events tally on 5247, 120 pins behind overnight leader Jason Belmonte. Korea's Chung Seung Wan is a further 44 pins behind in third position while local champion Wu Siu Hong's 2583 Doubles score has elevated him to fourth, just 14 pins behind the Korean.

Further information regarding the Championships can be obtained from Irene Chung of the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress Ltd, Tel: +852 2891 9786, Fax: +852 2575 2145 or email hktbc@netvigator.com.

For further information, please contact Ms Lynne Clay, ABF Media Director at Tel: +61 419 444 280 or email lynne.clay@tenpin.org.au.

Newsflash by Lynne Clay and photos courtesy of Hussien Sayad.

12th February, Hong Kong: Championship 300-shooter Hussain Mohhamad from Kuwait continued his outstanding form in the first block of today's Boys Doubles with a 215 average over the six games bowled on short oil.

Partnered by 2003 AMF Bowling World Cup representative, Basil Al Enezi, he shares top place with a combined score of 2556, 39 pins clear of Malaysia's Mohd Nadri bin Muhamed Noor and Adrian Ang. Ang's spectacular 269 and 279 games this afternoon delivered the High Average for the block, with a 230.3 average for the six games. His 1382 total has eclipsed the existing 6-game Doubles record set by Filipino Frederick Ong in Dubai in 2001.

Australia's Brandon Qualischefski and Matthew O'Brien slipped from the lead in the final game to finish in third position, 23 pins behind the Malaysian duo.

Current standings in the Boys All Events show Australia's Jason Belmonte 88 pins ahead of Hussain Mohhamad, with Japan's Isao Yamamoto just five pins behind in third place.

Further information regarding the Championships can be obtained from Irene Chung of the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress Ltd, Tel: +852 2891 9786, Fax: +852 2575 2145 or email hktbc@netvigator.com.

For further information, please contact Ms Lynne Clay, ABF Media Director at Tel: +61 419 444 280 or email lynne.clay@tenpin.org.au.

Newsflash by Lynne Clay and photos courtesy of Hussien Sayad.

12th February, Hong Kong: Malaysia's Zandra Aziela and Choy Poh Lai top the leaderboard after the first block on short oil in the Girls' Doubles event, posting individual totals of 1310 and 1231, (2541 combined), 70 pins clear of Korea's Lim A Rang and Son Yun Hee on 2471, with Australian pair Clair Johnston and Jayde Flanagan trailing by a further 55 pins on 2416.

Impressive High games by Thailand's Angkana Netrviseth (256), Japan's Kazumi Satoh (247 and 248) and Australia's Clair Johnston (245) highlighted the skill of the young women today in equipment adjustment and technique with the experience of the Singles event now under their belt.

A member of Malaysia's National Back Up Squad, 17 year old Zandra Aziela from Kuala Lumpur currently leads the Girls' All Events on 3753, followed by Japan's Kazumi Satoh on 3670 with Singles Gold medallist, Nam Bo Ra from Korea in hot pursuit on 3662.

The first block of Boys division Doubles is currently underway.

Further information regarding the Championships can be obtained from Irene Chung of the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress Ltd, Tel: +852 2891 9786, Fax: +852 2575 2145 or email hktbc@netvigator.com.

For further information, please contact Ms Lynne Clay, ABF Media Director at Tel: +61 419 444 280 or email lynne.clay@tenpin.org.au.

Newsflash by Lynne Clay and photos courtesy of HKTBC.

11th February, Hong Kong: A stunning Girls division high game of 278 swept 22 year- old Korean Nam Bo Ra to victory this afternoon in the Singles event of the 12th Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships. She finished with a 2515 212-game total, 27 pins ahead of overnight leader, Valerie Teo Hui Ying from Singapore.

Zandra Aziela from Malaysia also stormed home from 7th position posting a 236 score in the final game to take the Bronze medal by a slim 15 pin margin over Korea's Choi Gui Hyun.

Medal presentations for both the Boys and Girls Singles events are currently underway on the lanes.

Further information regarding the Championships can be obtained from Irene Chung of the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress Ltd, Tel: +852 2891 9786, Fax: +852 2575 2145 or email hktbc@netvigator.com.

For further information, please contact Ms Lynne Clay, ABF Media Director at Tel: +61 419 444 280 or email lynne.clay@tenpin.org.au.

Newsflash by Lynne Clay and photos courtesy of HKTBC.

11th February, Hong Kong: Australia's Jason Belmonte has streaked to a runaway victory in the Boys Singles of the 12th Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships winning Gold in the 12-game event with a 2776 total and a 231.3 average.

Belmonte held off a strong finish by Japan's Isao Yamamoto who rolled a 258 high game of the final round finishing 45 pins off the pace, overtaking Korea's Chung Seung Wan who finished on 2708.

Singapore's Jason Yeong Nathan was 81 pins behind the Korean, with yesterday's 300 game shooter, Hussain Mohhamad from Kuwait in fifth position on 2610.

The Kegel team are washing and re-oiling the lanes in preparation for the final block of the Girls Singles event which is scheduled to begin at 1.30 pm local time.

Further information regarding the Championships can be obtained from Irene Chung of the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress Ltd, Tel: +852 2891 9786, Fax: +852 2575 2145 or email hktbc@netvigator.com.

For further information, please contact Ms Lynne Clay, ABF Media Director at Tel: +61 419 444 280 or email lynne.clay@tenpin.org.au.

Newsflash by Lynne Clay and photos courtesy of HKTBC.

10th February, Hong Kong: 19 year old Valerie Teo Hui Ying from Singapore finished top of the leaderboard after the first six games on Long Oil pattern on 1337 and a 222.8 average in the Girls' division of the 12th ABF Youth championships in Hong Kong this morning.

Valerie shot two consecutive 248 scores in Games 3 and 4 to finish 12 pins ahead of Korea's Choi Gui Hyun, with Clair Johnston from Australia in third position on 1297.

Nam Bo Ra from Korea took high game honours for the block, shooting 258 in Game 2, and finishing just 8 pins behind Clair Johnston.

The Girls return at 1.30 pm tomorrow afternoon to contest the second block of six games.

Further information regarding the Championships can be obtained from Irene Chung of the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress Ltd, Tel: +852 2891 9786, Fax: +852 2575 2145 or email hktbc@netvigator.com.

For further information, please contact Ms Lynne Clay, ABF Media Director at Tel: +61 419 444 280 or email lynne.clay@tenpin.org.au.

Newsflash by Lynne Clay and photos courtesy of HKTBC.