11th February, Doha: Hazel Tan Wei Ning of Singapore and Jaroslav Zapletal of Czech Republic took a slim victory in the opening event of the 14th International Friendship Youth Bowling Championship 2026 to win the Girl's and Boy's Singles gold medals.

Natalie Chong Yi Wen of Malaysia got off the block with a superb 258 in her opening game to lead Melissa Ainslie of Scotland by 26 pins with Kiri Watanabe of Japan in third with 231 and Qurratu'Ain Izdihar of Malaysia in fourth with 226.

Ainslie added 222 in her second game to take over the running, eight pins ahead of Chong, who stumbled to a low 188. Antonnette Garcia of Philippines and Lim Shi En of Singapore move into third and fourth spots. Watanabe, who managed only 188 in her second game, bounced back with 256 to leapfrog into the lead.

Lim moved into second as the Scot and the Malaysian slipped out of contention. The Japanese added 253 and 219 in the fourth and fifth games to remain in the lead. Hazel Tan shot s sizzling 279 in the fifth game to take up second spot, just eight pins adrift.

Meanwhile, Jaroslav Zapletal also took a slim victory in the boy's division to win the gold medal with 1472. Edgardo Ramos of Puerto Rico almost rolled the championship's first perfect game but settled for 299 to set the early pace in the lead.

Adam Haxa of Cech Republic and Talal Al Amarri of Qatar A rolled 279 to share second spot followed by Colum Satines of Ireland in fourth with 263. Ramos added 238 to take over the running and Satines added another 266 to move into second.

Carlos De Freitas of Spain rolled three big games of 240, 264 and 259 to move into the lead at the halfway mark. Adrian Tokashiki of Japan also had three superb games of 234, 268 and 257 to take up second while the early pace-setters faded away.

The Spanish and the Japanese continue to lead the pack in first and second after the fourth game as Ramos bounced back to take up third spot. Zapletal stormed home with 258 and 257 to snatch victory and earned the gold, just four pins ahead of Ramos, who picked up the silver medal with 1468.