Koreans lead the way

13/12/2002

FIFTEEN-year-old Choi Bok Eum underlined the awesome reputation of Korean bowlers when he fired a total of 918 pinfalls to become the new leader in the Boys' Open of the Third Milo International Junior All-Stars Bowling Championships at the Megalanes in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
The bespectacled left-handed heavy hook bowler knocked down lines of
185, 258, 237 and 238 to top the list of qualifiers and had two pins more
than overnight leader Sean Hee of Selangor.
Choi, who is from Seoul, only started bowling three years ago and is a
member of the Korean Youth Bowling Camp under coach Kim Jeong-Bo.
The other Korean, Back Seung Joon, who arrived late on Wednesday night, also did well to score 893. He has already secured a berth in the Finals with his current seventh placing. Australian Trent Cage shot 875 and is in 11th spot and should make the top-32 cut.
In the Girls' Open, Sabah Malaysia Games All-Events gold medallist
Vivien Khoo improved her score to 856 to move up to second spot, 21 pins behind leader Sharon Chai. She is one pin ahead of Yazlin Razlan who slipped to third.
Indonesia's Putty Adrmein shot 832 to secure sixth placing and Sharon
Limansantoso shot 815 for 10th. National bowler Chop Poh Lai, who started her campaign on Wednesday night, scored 818 to tie with Malaysia Games Masters gold medallist Zandra Aziela in eighth.
More international stars are expected to arrive today. Arriving
yesterday was 1999 CGU Asian Bowling Tour's Malaysia leg champion Cheng Chao-Sheng of Taiwan.
Cheng, younger brother of Cheng Chao-Yu who represented Taiwan at the Riga AMF World Cup, will be having his last crack at the Junior All-Stars title as he will be overaged next year.
Born in 1980, Cheng has been actively competing in international
tournaments for the past three years. Among his many achievements is the Singles gold in the recent Far East Championship in Shenzen, China.
Asian Games gold medallist Nam Bo Ra and Kim Hyo-Mi of Korea are
expected to arrive today with Asian Games silver medallist Kim Kyungmin, who shot a perfect game and won a vintage car during the Malaysian Open last March.
Defending champion and 2001 Asian No 1, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong will also arrive today to defend his title.
Qualifying rounds conclude today. The First Block of Masters will roll
off tomorrow followed by the Second Block and the stepladder Grand Finals
on Sunday.
(END)