KUWAIT: The 25th Asian Bowling Ten Pin Championship will come to a conclusion tonight at 7 pm which was hosted by Kuwait Bowling Center in Salmiya. The tournament enjoyed unmatched success during the past 10 days with the participation of 27 countries, under the patronage of HH the Prime Minister.
Malaysia seems to have guaranteed being on top of the standings as ten events are completed and only two left. Malaysia collected five gold, one silver and four bronze, followed by South Korea with three gold, three silver and three bronze. China has one gold, one silver and one bronze, Hong Kong has one gold, Indonesia two silver, Chinese Taipei has one silver and one bronze, Kuwait and India one silver each, while Japan has a bronze.
Malaysia is now trying to displace South Korea from the top which controlled it for the past five championships to reclaim its place that it dominated during the eighties and nineties of the past century. This will take place if South Korea does not win more than one gold in the men's and women's masters rounds.
Hong Kong won its first medal when it won the teams gold medal for men by scoring 7,031 followed by Chinese Taipei with a score of 7,005 and China with 7,001.
The women's team gold went to South Korea scoring 7,045 points followed by Malaysia with 6,825 and Taipei with 6,781.
Malaysian Timmy Tan won the all events score with 5,805 points, followed by Chinese Du Jianchao who collected 5,745, while South Korean Kang Heewon was third with 5,724.
Meanwhile, in the women's category Koreans Lee Nayoung and Baek Seungia took gold and silver with the scores of 5,884, 5,760, leaving the bronze to Malaysia's Sin Li Jane, who collected 5,714.
Malaysia's team technical manager said he is happy with his country's achievements so far, adding "we came to win one gold at least, and this was achieved by the strong start by the team, and it is possible to win more."
He said the championship is technically strong, and the women's competition is only between S Korea and Malaysia, while with men it is more difficult as five teams have the same level, and that makes it difficult to predict.
He said Kuwait Bowling Center is considered in the world as far as size, equipment and technological fittings.
Meanwhile, Singapore's team manager lauded the highly professional organization, and hospitality at the same time, that coupled with the participation of Asia's best players for both genders.
By Abdellatif Sharaa