11th July, Bangkok: Team silver medallist, Baek Seungmin is vying for Korean boys' first gold medal at the 21st Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships after taking a slender lead over Team gold medallist, Artegal Barrientos of Philippines and All-Events gold medallist, Vilinkorn Kiedkaew of Thailand.

Singles gold medallist, Lan Shao Kang of Chinese Taipei defeated sole Singapore finalist, Aiman Lim 256-178 and a 10-pin bonus to lead the field of 16 finalists. Barrientos tied with team-mate Marc Dylan Custodio 236 to share 5-pin bonus for second spot.

The 18-year-old Filipino faced the Taiwanese in the second match and shot a sizzling 246 to take over the running, 8 pins ahead. Lan bounced back winning his third match to regain the lead as Barrientos suffered a defeat with just 166.

Baek, who had a slow start losing both his two opening matches, scorched the lanes and almost shot the championships' first perfect game but was content with 299 to take over the lead. Lan lost his fourth match to slip behind the 20-year-old Korean left-hander.

Baek won his next four matches to end the block with 1831, winning six of the 8 matches contested. Barrientos also won his remaining four matches to finish second with 1805. Vilinkorn's five wins put the him in third position with 1736.

A second Korean, Lee Myeongcheol, who was at one stage trailing the Taiwanese, ended in fourth with 1705 with just four wins. Australia's Blake Walsh completed the top 5 with 1704 from seven wins.

The boys will resume with their second block of 7 games and a position-round match in the morning to determine the top 3 proceeding to the Stepladder Finals. The girls will contest their second block in the afternoon.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok, Thailand.