Korean cops Asian Youth bowling 1st gold

MANILA, Philippines — South Korea’s Kim Ye Sol made a golden debut in the 19th Asian Youth Bowling Championships yesterday, ruling the girls singles competition at the Coronado Lanes inside the EDSA Starmall in Mandaluyong,

Kim rolled a six-game series of 1330, highlighted by a 249 in the fourth game,  and 221.67 average to bag the gold in the opening event of the tournament organized by the Philippine Bowling Federation and sanctioned by the Asian Bowling Federation and World Bowling.

She finished nine pins ahead of Malaysian Nur Amira Auni, who carded 1321 pinfalls in securing the silver, narrowly beating Japanese Shin Izumune (1299), who settled for silver in the kegfest sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission Boysen Paints, Prima Pasta, Cebuana Lhuillier, F.R. Sevilla Industrial & Development Corp., Promax, Vectron Trade Corp. and Amstar Co. Inc.

“I was not expecting to win because this is my first time to compete in the tournament. I am so happy,” said Kim, 20, a native of Gok Seong province, a four- hour drive south of the South Korean capital of Seoul.

Suffering from jitters and inexperience, the Filipina bowlers were off to a shaky start in the competition also supported by NTN bearings, PLDT, Smart Communications, Rain Forest Mineral Water, R & M Preserves, Coronado Lanes. EDSA Shangri-la and Linden Suites are the official hotels of the 19th AYC.

 Daphne Custodio was the country’s best finisher in 18th place after rolling 1098 and a 183 average, while Bea Hernandez (1071) and  RJoy Daval Santos (1060) were in 23rd and 24th places, respectively. Nina de Vera (1014) wallowed in No. 27 in the field of 34 bowlers.