15th August, Bangkok: Malaysia's Shaqeem Izwan Teh Shahrul bagged the Boy's Singles Gold medal at the 21st MWA Asian Junior Tenpin Bowling Championships while Squad 1 leader, Ashley Victoria Lok of Singapore sealed the Girl's crown on Monday evening.

Kuwait's Abdulrahman Alkandari set a cracking pace with a 290 opener for a 25-pin lead over Malaysia's Syabil-Azam Syamsul-Azam, who shot 265. The Kuwaiti continued a strong pace with 197, 246 and 265 to extend his lead as Chinese Taipei's Lan Shao-Kang moved into second spot.

Lan then fired 255 in the fifth to take over the running as Aldulrahman failed to maintain his strong pace. The leader needed on 157 or more to overhaul Squad 1 leader, Sugawara Kanade of Japan for the gold and rolled 196 in his final game.

Abdulrahman needed 164 or more to beat the Japanese and shot 202. Both were able to move ahead but not realising that Shaqeem stormed home with 279 and 257 in his last two games to snatch victory and the gold with 1435. Lan and Abdulrahman settled for the silver and bronze medals with 1407 and 1406 respectively while Kanade missed out in fourth, 38 pins adrift.

In the gilr's division, Ramita Sarntong gave host nation, Thailand plenty to cheer for as she topped the Girl's second squad with 1289 after a keen tussle for the lead with Japan's Ishida Manon, to secure the bronze medal.

Singapore's Squad 1 leader, Ashley Lok of Tean B and second-placed, Shirlene Wong Xue Lin of Team A remained unbeaten to claim the gold and silver medals with 1334 and 1300 resoectively.

Manon, who finished second to the Thai, missed out on the podium to take up fourth position with 1219, a distance 70 pins away. Anis Hannani Bte Romzi of Malaysia, who was third in Squad 1, also missed out in fifth with 1198.

Ms Vivien Lau, BBS, JP, Honorary Life President of ABF was on hand to present the medals to the Boys winners while Mr Arun Suppaterawet, TTBA Committee member and host tournament coordinator presented the medals to the Girls winners.

Competition will resume with the Doubles event tomorrow, again divided into two squads. The scores of the combined squads will determine the medal winners.