8th February, Hong Kong: Full attendance and spirited discussion at today's Managers Meeting set the tone of what promises to be a momentous Championship for Youth tenpin bowlers.

ABF Tournament Director, Dr. Danny Santos introduced Hong Kong TBC Tournament Coordinator, T.K. Fung, and Technical Delegate, Don Agent from Kegel, the trio forming the Tournament Technical Committee for the 12th Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships.

The Asian Bowling Federation has been a forerunner in adopting the recommendations of the WTBA's technical experts, trialling multi-lane conditions in its 2002 Asian Championships. This, and subsequent research, has resulted in the decision to again utilise two different length oil patterns for this Youth event.

"We will be putting down both long and short oil patterns twice tomorrow for Official Practice and the graphs will be available to everyone, as well as on display in the Centre," advised Kegel's Don Agent at the Managers Meeting today.

Former Chair of the WTBA Technical Committee, Sid Allen also gave a detailed overview of the development and rationale of the multi-lane condition concept, and the goal of providing equality for all styles of play. He

explained the impact of the burgeoning availability of bowling balls that threatened to override bowlers' skill factor and the logic of limiting the number of balls that can be used in these Championships. These parameters, and the decision to increase the number of games are being implemented to enable the very best bowlers to emerge and be recognised by their peers, and the public at large.

The tournament will bring together the cream of Asia's under-23 year old bowlers in a week-long competition in which medals will be awarded in Singles, Doubles, 4-person Teams, All Events and Masters. The top 16 scores in male and female divisions will contest the round-robin Masters event, culminating in a stepladder Grand final that will be televised nationally. Full scores, stories photos will be published here.

Further information regarding the Championships can be obtained from Irene Chung of the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress Ltd, Tel: +852 2891 9786, Fax: +852 2575 2145 or email hktbc@netvigator.com.

Media released by ABF Media Director, Ms Lynne Clay. For further information, please contact her at Tel: +61 419 444 280 or email lynne.clay@tenpin.org.au.