23rd October, Manila: Korean debutant, Kim Ye Sol bagged the first gold medal of the 19th Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships with victory in the Girl's Singles at the 38-lane Coronado Lanes, EDSA Starmall in Mandaluyong City.

Nur Amirah Auni of Malaysia got off the block with a superb 229 in her opening game to lead Kim by a single pin as 2015 Asian Youth Team bronze medallist, Ilya Syamin trailed in third, a further four pins away.

A second Korean debutant, Yang Da Som rolled a sizzling 245 in her second game to leapfrog into the lead with Nur Amirah continuing to trail in second. Kim managed only 197 to slip down to third. A third Korean, Lee Hyun Jung added a strong 225 to move up to fourth.

But Kim bounced back with 239 to regain the lead at the halfway mark, 19 pins ahead of her compatriot, Yang while the Malaysian settled for third despite knocking down 212.

Lee missed the podium by 12 pins to end in fourth position with 1287 while early pace-setter, Yang completed the top five with 1252. 2017 Asian School multiple gold medallist, Wong Son Ian of Macau, who was at once stage in third position, managed only to finish eighth with 1209.

Defending champion, Nora Lyana Natasia of Malaysia finished ninth with 1201 making the top nine averaging above 200 in a field of 34 girls. The boys will take to the lanes in the afternoon for their first event.

Competition will shift to the Doubles event tomorrow with the boys contesting in the morning and the girls in the afternoon. The Team of Four will be held over two blocks of three games each on October 25 and 26.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Manila.