15th April, Bangkok: Lin Pai-Feng and Wang Ya-Ting celebrated a rare double for Chinese Taipei by capturing the Men's and Women's titles of the opening leg of the ABF Tour Thailand 2018 at Blu-O Rhythm and Bowl Siam Paragon.
Lin, who scored a perfect game during his 44th MWA-Singha Thailand International Open qualifying rounds, was content to trail his challenger and Thailand Open Men's Open Masters second runner-up, Han Jae Hyeon of Korea after the Korean reeled in five consecutive strikes in the title match.
The Taiwanese finally got into his strides after the fifth frame with three strikes-in-a-row as Han encountered a split in the sixth frame. Han still had a slender lead after the eighth frame but another split in the ninth frame proved costly.
Lin struck in the ninth frame and an 8-pin spare in the tenth frame to end with 229. Han had to strike in his last frame to take the title but managed only an 8-pin spare to hand the title to Lin with 221.
Lin Pai-Feng and Wang Ya-Ting celebrating their double victory
The champion narrowly defeated Malaysia's Syafiq Ridhwan, 224-222 in the first semi-final match to book his place in the final while Han ousted local hopeful, Surasak Manuwong, 246-232 in the semi-final to advance to the final.
Lin first beat compatriot, Hsieh Chin-Liang, 223-214 in his opening round and India's Akaash Ashok Kumar, 234-231 in Round 2 to reach the semi-final. The 50-year-old picked up US$500 and a trophy as champion. Han settled for US$300. Surasak and Syafiq earned US$150 each as second and third runners-up.
In the women's division, Wang Ya-Ting gave her country, Chinese Taipei a rare double with victory over challenger, Tannya Roumimper of Indonesia, 200-180 in the final. Roumimper had an opened frame at the start of the match but struck in the third frame to draw level.
Although the Indonesian had a split in the fifth frame, Roumimper was able to narrow the gap with another strike in her next frame. Wang was leading by ten pins and ended the match with a 9-pin spare.
Roumimper needed a strike to deny Wang the victory but suffered another split to settle for first runner-up. The champion breezed past team-mate, Chou Chia-Chen, 268-223 in the all-Taiwanese first semi-final to reach the final.
The Indonesian elimiated debutant, Lee Hyeon Gyung of Korea, 244-222 in the other semi-final match to reach the final.
Three Hong Kong men finalists, Mak, Tse and Lau
Wang ousted the remaining Malaysia, Hee Kar Yen, 255-245 in Round 2 and another Malaysian, Siti Safiyah, 233-231 in her opening round. Wang pocketed US$500 and was awarded a trophy as champion. Roumimper took home US$300 as first runner-up. Chou and Lee earned US$150 each as second and third runners-up.
Mr Wiwatchai Ratanarat, Vice President of Thai Tenpin Bowling Association was on hand to present the trophies to the champions. The ABF Tour Thailand 2018 leg is the first of four legs to be staged in East Asia. The next stop will be in Macau, China on June 24. 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 Bangkok.
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