15th October, Tianjin, China: Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong denied Asia powerhouse Korea, a clean sweep at the 6th East Asian Games Tenpin Bowling competition with victory in the Men's Masters at Tianjin Tuanbo Bowling Centre.
When top seed and four gold medalist, Choi Bok Eum of Korea beat No. 3 seed, Wu Siu Hong in the first match 205-170, it appeared that Korea would win all 12 gold medals at the games. But Wu fought back gallantly with five strikes-in-a-row in the second match to draw level on total pins.
All Choi needed was a mark in the tenth and final frame but rolled a big split. Wu doubled in the eighth and ninth frames and despite failing to spare his final frame, the Hong Kong national bowler managed to win the match, 233-190 and sealed the gold medal 403-395 two games total.
The champion set up the finale with Choi after defeating No. 2 seed, Shin Seung Hyeon 233-216 in the semi-finals to deny them an all-Korean final.
Wu Siu Hong denying Korea a clean sweep with victory in the Masters
"I struggled to find the line on the short oil pattern that Choi chose. Although I made numerous line change as well as ball change, it didn't help in the first game.
But I kept my focus on the job and felt that I have a chance knowing he didn't score high either in the first game. This win is not only for Hong Kong but also for China."
Meanwhile it was an all-Korean affair in the Women's division. Top seed and World Championships All Events gold medalist, Son Yun Hee proved she is a class above all. She sailed past challenger and No. 3 seed, Lee Na Young, 546-419 in the finals to win her sixth gold medal of the compeition.
She made history by becoming the first female from Korea to win all six gold medals in the games. Lee, who took home the silver, ousted No. 2 seed, Jung Da Wun 237-207 in the semi-finals to face Son in the finals.
In the earlier second block finals, Son earned top spot with 3797 from a total of nine wins over two blocks. Jung, who led in the first block, finished second with 3707 from a total of 14 wins.
Lee earned third spot with 3597 from a total of nine wins. Chinese Taipei's Chou Chia Chen, who was third overnight, missed the stepladder finals after finishing fourth with 3543. Singles co-champion, Kim Moon Jeong rounded out the top 5 with 3541.
Masters champions, Wu Siu Hong and Son Yun-Hee
Korean women won all six gold medals including a seventh when Son and Kim tied in the Singles. They also took home 4 silver and 3 bronze medals. Chinese Taipei picked up 1 silver and 2 bronze medals leaving China with 1 bronze from the Team event.
Korean men won 5 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals with Hong Kong 1 gold and 1 silver. Japan took home 1 silver and 2 bronze medals. Korea finished a clear overall champion with a medal haul of 12-8-7.
46 men and 38 women from eighth East Asia participated in the 6th edition of the games held at Tianjin Tuanbo Bowling Alley from October 5 to 15. The 7th East Asian Games will be hosted by Macau, China but will only be for athletes under 18 years of age.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Tianjin, China.
12th October, Tianjin, China: Hong Kong clinched the 5-player Team silver medal of the 6th East Asian Games Tenpin Bowling competition at the end of the second block at Tianjin Tuanbo Bowling Centre.
Choi Bok Eum, Cho Young Seon, Park Jong Woo, Shin Seung Hyeon and Kim Ju Young (alternated by Kim Jun Yung in the second block) firmed up their win with a total of 6427.
Despite two lack-luster games of 984 and 996 in the fourth and fifth, the Koreans were simply too good for the field cruising home 97 pins ahead.
Japan's Tomoyuki Sasaki, Daisuke Yoshida, Toshihiko Takahashi, Shusaku Asato and Yoshinao Masatoki had reduced the gap to 66 pins and taking the challenge to the Koreans, but the champion fired a superb final game of 1117 to seal victory.
Hong Kong winning the Men's 5-player Team silver medal
Hong Kong's Eric Tseng, Micahel Tsang, Wicky Yeung, Wu Siu Hong and Michael Mak had looked to have handed the silver medal to the Japanese midway through the final game, but fought back brilliantly with 1123 to clinch the silver with 6330.
The race for second was keenly contested but eventually Japan had to settle for the bronze medal with 6306. Chinese Taipei finished fourth with 5556, 750 pins adrift Japan.
The victory was the Korean men's fourth gold in as many events contested so far. Triple gold medalist, Choi Bok Eum also picked up his second individual and his fourth gold after topping the Men's All Events with 5685.Shin earned the silver medal with 5341, a massive 344 pins behind while Son Young Seon took home the bronze medal with 5287 giving Korea another clean sweep.
All six Koreans qualified for the Masters finals with four from Japan, three from Hong Kong and one each from Guam, Macau and Chinese Taipei. Chen Wengchang of China missed the cut in 17th position.
Korean men has won 5 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze medals to add to the women's haul of 4-2-1. Korea is a clear overall champion with 9 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals so far.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Tianjin, China.
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