15th January, Hong Kong: Korea aims to break a 17-year drought for the Men's Team of 5 title after snatching the first block lead of the 26th Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships at SCAA Bowling Centre on Sunday.
UAE's Hussain Alsuwaidi, Obaid Alsaadi, Sultan Alqubaisi, Mahmood Alattar and Naif Oqab got off the block with a stunning 1284 in their opening game to lead Malaysia's Trios gold medallist of Muhd Rafiq Ismail, Timmy Tan and Ahmad Muaz together with Syafiq RIdhwan and Tun Hakim by 51 pins.
Saudi's Abdulrahman Alkheliwi, Yousef Salem Aljarad, Ahmed A Abualreesh, Bandar T Alyabah and Sultan F Almasri were the third team to score over 1200 to take up third spot. But the Emiratis returned only a moderate 1169 to slip behind Korea and Malaysia.
Kim Donghyeon, Kil Junseong, Lee Ikkyu, Park Geonha and Ji Geun fired a sizzling 1292 to add to their 1198 opener to take over the running. Malaysia moved into second with 1231, 11 pins ahead of UAE. Saudi Arabia dropped down to fourth after a 1186 second game.