12th June, Hong Kong: Milki Ng Tsz Yin of Hong Kong and Rakan Al Amiri of Kuwait won their maiden tour titles after emerging victorious in the Women's and Men's division of the ABF Tour Hong Kong 2013 at SCAA Bowling Centre.
Ng was just pacing herself in the title match sparing each frames and knocking down an occasional strike as Yung had two open frames in the second and fifth. By the eight frame, Ng had a 20-pin lead over her opponent.
A single pin miss in the ninth frame deciding the match in favour of Ng as she eventuall doubled up in the ninth and tenth frames to win her first-ever tour title comfortably, 200-159.
"I was just concentrating on making good shots and picking up my spares," said 22-year-old Ng, a full-time athlete with the Hong Kong National team.
Milki Ng with her ABF Tour champion's trophy
"Bowling on home ground and in front of my supporters has given the inspiration to do well. I had a lucky bye in the first round and I got more comfortable as I conituned to make progress. I've to thank my coach, who has guided me along the way and also my team-mates."
The champion edged team-mate, Chan Shuk Han by 1 pin when won her second round match, 169-168 to reach the semi-final.
Ng went on to beat another fellow compatriot, Leung Mei Sheung 189-184 in an all-Hong Kong semi to set up a showdown with Yung in the final. Yung sailed pass Filomena Choi of Macau, 222-179 in the other semi to face Ng.
The runner-up rolled the highest game in the women's division when she beat compatriot, Sonia Ho 229-183 in the first round and another compatriot, Hazel Lam 180-169 in the second round.
In the men's division, Rakan Al Amiri thrashed 2013 ABF Tour Kuwait leg champion, Hareb Al Mansoori of UAE, 222-151 to claim his first-ever tour title.
Despite encountering a split in his opening game, the Kuwaiti recovered with three strikes in a row as Hareb had two splits in the second and fourth frames. Rakan had another open frame in the fifth but bounced back again with six strikes to romp home a comfortable winner.
The champion a high game in his opening round to beat newly-crowned Hong Kong Open champion, Zoe Dias Ma of Macau, 248-202 and the highest game of the division when he defeated Wicky Yeung of Hong Kong, 254-216 in the second round.
Rakan had a scare in the semi-final match against Sithiphol Kunaksorn of Thailand when he needed only 9 pin count in his final frame but encountered a 4-7-10 split. Fortunately he was able to take two pins to win the match, 212-211 to advance to the final.
Rakan Al Amiri winning his first-ever tour title
Hareb failed to impress en-route to the championship match. The Emirati narrowly beat Jassim Darwish of Kuwait, 184-180 in Round 1 and Hong Kong's Michael Tsang, 180-161 in Round 2. He also edged Mohammed Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, 180-171 to win the second semi-final match.
Ms Vivien Lau, Hon. Life President of ABF, Chairman of HKTBC and Secretary General of FIQ was on hand to present the trophies to the winners. The next tour stop move to neigbouring Macau on June 20 following the 2013 Macau-China International Open from June 14 to 19. Four more stops will be held in Indonesia, UAE, Philippines and Saudi Arabia.
For further information and details, please contact ABF Tour Committee at Tel: +852 2893 6039, Fax: +852 2893 6290; Email: hktbc@netvigator.com.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong, China.
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