2nd July, Kuching, Sarawak: Czechia ousted Qatar, 2-0 in the Boy's Team first semi-final match of the 2026 IBF World Youth Bowling Championships while Australia defeated USA 2-0 in the other semi-final for a final showdown scheduled on Monday July 6.

Top-seed, Qatar lost the first game of the first semi-finals match to fourth-seed, Czechia, 228-246 in the best-of-3 tie. In the second match, Qatar started well but Czechia fought back brilliantly to win the second game, 228-202 and advanced to the final.

In the second semi-final match, second-seed, Australia narrowly defeated the fancied USA, 246-234 to win the first game. Both teams had one split each, which they failed to convert. Australia recovered with a double and USA responded as well.

Australia kept their composure to take the second game, 197-187 and secured their spot in the final and will face Czech. In the earlier Matchplay rounds, Australia topped Group B with six wins for a total of 18 points. Czcehia finished second with 15 points from five wins. Korea and Hong Kong tied third spot with 10 points a piece from three wins and a draw.

Qatar won Group A with five wins and a draw for 16 points while USA won four matches and a draw to take up second in the group with 13 points. Singapore missed the cut for the semi-finals after picking up only four wins for 12 points.

The Girl's Team qualifying round will be contested tomorrow morning at 9:00am local time. The top 16 teams will qualify for the head-to-head Matchplay round over seven matches divided into two groups. The top 2 with the highest points earned will advance to the semi-finals.

The final event of the championships will be the Mixed Team qualifying scheduled for Saturday, July 4. They will be divided into two squads and the top 16 Mixed teams with the highest scores will qualify for the Matchplay round followed immediately with the semi-finals.

The Semi-finals for the Singles and Doubles for both the divisions will be contested on Sunday, July 5.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kuching, Sarawak.

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