21st July, Hong Kong: Gigi Leung and Joey Yip of Hong Kong ended the ABF Tour Hong Kong 2019 finishing as second and third runners-up in the women's division as Rafiq Ismail of Malaysia and Lara Posadas-Wong of Philippines captured their maiden tour title.
Leung edged topseed and Hong Kong Open first runner-up, Nur Amirah AUni of Malaysia, 240-235 in her opening round match. The national bowler went on to defeat Bea Hernandez of Philippines, 246-238 to advance to the semi-finals.
But her good run came to an end went she found Malaysia's Nora Lyana Natasia a handful, going down 221-277 in the Women's second semi-final match. Yip, who breezed past Alexis Sy of Philippines, 223-179 in her opening round match, ousted Malaysia's Faten Najihah, 213-199 in the second round to advance to the semi.
Her fine run also came to an end when Yip lost to eventual champion, Lara Posadas-Wong, 180-226 in the second semi-final match.
Gigi Leung finishing a creditable second runner-up in the Women's division
Posadas-Wong went on to beat Natasia, 203-171 in the final to capture her first-ever tour title, 14 years after her sister Apple Posadas won it in Manila. Hong Kong's other finalist was Chan Shuk Han, who also made an early exit losing to Malaysia's Nora Lyana Natasia, 202-246 in the opening round.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong's only hope were dashed when 2017 World Championships Trios gold medallist, Eric Tseng crashed out narrowly in Round 1 to Enzo Hernandez of Philippines, 243-245. Tour denutant, Oscar Poon won his opening round with a victory over Malaysia's Muhd Azizi Naim, 242-189.
But Poon was handed a heavy task of meeting newly-crowned Hong Kong Open champion and topseed, Rafiq Ismail of Malaysia in the next round. Ismail gave Poon no chance taking the match with an easy 240-199 victory.
Ismail then defeated Hernandez, 267-229 in the Men's second semi-final match before ousting team-mate, Tun Hakim, 266-247 in the all-Malaysian final to win his first tour title. Hakim had breezed past Saudi debutant, Sari Jazaeri, 211-137 in the other semi-final to face Ismail in the final.
Ms Vivien Lau, BBS, JP, Secretary General of World Bowling and Chairman of ABF Tour Organizing Committee awarded the tropies to the champions.
Rafiq Ismail and Lara Posadas-Wong winning their first-ever tour title
Ismail and Posadas-Wong took home US$500 each while the first runners-up took home US$300 each. Second and third runners-up settled for US$150 each. The third and final leg of this year's ABF Tour will be staged at Southern Bowling Centre on August 18, 2019, a day after the 19th Chinese Taipei International Open, which will be held from August 11 to 17.
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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