21st April, Kuching: Squad 1 leading pair of Singapore's Jomond Chia-Brandon Ong and Malaysia's Nur Syazwani Sahar-Gillian Lim remained unbeaten with the completion of Squad 2 to win the Boy's and Girl's Doubles gold medals at the 20th Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships.

The first Singapore pair amassed a total of 2470 and led the boy's division while the first Malaysia pair posted 2513 for the lead the girl's division in the earlier squad. Philippines' second pair of Kenzo Umali and Singles gold medallist, Merwin Tan set the early pace in the second squad to lead the first two games.

But Malaysia's second pair of Shahrukh Amin and Muhammad Syazirol took over the running after the third game with the Filipinos slipping down to second. The Malaysian pair rolled consistent games of 405, 416, 402, 437 and 403 going into the final game needing 407 or more to overhaul the Singaporeans for the gold.

But they managed only 395 which left them in third overall and settled for the bronze medal with 2458. The first Malaysian pair of Nevern Marcellinus and Muhammad Hafiz, who was second to Singapore in the first block with 2526, remained unbeaten to pick up the silver medal.

Philippines' first pair of Kayle Abad and Patrick Nuqui missed the podium with 2432 to finish fourth while the second Korean pair of Won Jonghyeok and Han Seongsu, who finished second in the second squad, rounded out the top five with 2332.

In the girl's division, Korea's second pair of Shin Hyebin and Jeong Yeri literally from start to finish in the second squad except sharing the lead with Macau's second pair of Chan Hei Io and So Cheng Lam in the third game.

The Koreans reeled in 389, 388, 393, 396 and 395 and needed a near-impossible 552 in their final game to snatch the gold from Squad 1 leader, Malaysia. They ended strongly to top the squad and clinch the silver medal with 2389.

Singapore's first pair Charmaine Chang and Amabel Chua, who was second to Malaysia in the first squad settled for the bronze medal with 2354. The other Malaysian pair of twins, Nurul Alyssa and Nurul Ayunni, who finished second to the Korean Squad 2 leader, missed the podium by 58 pins to end up in fourth overall.

Ong's 1449 effort in the Doubles event has propelled him into the lead of the Boy's All Events standings with 2767. Hafiz and Tan occupied second and third spots with 2596 and 2566 respectively. Park Sanghyeok of Korea is only two pins away from third.

Singles bronze and Doubles silver medallist, Jeong Yeri of Korea led the Girl's All Events standing with 2389, just five pins ahead of Singapore's Chua in second with 2384. Singles silver medallist, Kim Hyeonji took up third with 2372.

Competition will shift to the Team of Four event to be contested over two blocks of three games each on April 22 and 23. The top 16 boys and top 16 girls with the highest pinfalls based on a total of 18 games from the Singles, Doubles and Team of Four event will advance to the Round-Robin Masters Finals.

The top 3 boys and top 3 girls with the highest pinfalls in the Masters finals will proceed to the Stepladder Shootout finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kuching, Sarawak.