4th July, Kuching, Sarawak: Vit Jiriste, David Mojka, Ema Iwazawa and Victorie Brokesova of Czechia 1 topped the opening squad of the Mixed Team qualifying round at the 2026 IBF World Youth Bowling Championships ahead of pace-setter, Malaysia 1 in second and Finland 1 third.

Korea 1 set a cracking pace in their opening game with 231 followed by Czechia 1 in second, just eight pins behind. USA 1 took third ahead of Malaysia 1 in fourth. The Malaysian quartet added 256 in the second to take over the running as Korea 1 slipped to second.

Malaysia led for the next five games with lines of 246, 201, 179, 215 and 242 but stumbled to a lowly 167 in the eighth game. Czechia 1 trailed the leader and managed to reduce the gap to just one pin. Singapore 1 and Finland 1 stayed in close contact with the leading duo.

Czechia ended the qualifying round with 208 and 227 to clinch top spot with 2160. Malaysia 1 settled for second with 2140, 20 pins adrift. Finland 1 and Singapore 1 took third and fourth spots with 2108 and 2083 respectively while Sweden 1 rounded out the top five with 2074.

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