22nd July, Kaohsiung: Mixed Doubles bronze medalist, Adrian Ang gave Malaysia its second bronze medal after he lost to eventual champion, Manuel Otalora of Colombia in the Men's Singles semifinals of the World Games Kaohsiung 2009 on Wednesday.

Malaysia's Adrian Ang, who was fourth after 9 matches in today's Singles Round-Robin, beat third-place and PBA pro bowler, Chris Barnes in the tenth and position round to earn a spot in the stepladder finals with a total of 2234.

Ang narrowly lost to eventual champion and second-seed, Manuel Otalora of Colombia, 181-184 to settle for his second bronze medal of the tenpin bowling competition. Otalora went on to defeat topseed, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong, 445-367 to emerge as champion.

The 28-year-old Colombian edged Wu, 190-188 in the first match and trashed his opponent, 255-179 in the second game. The silver medalist had earlier topped the round-robin finals with a total of 2259 ahead of Otalora in second with 2240.

"The lanes were the same during the semifinals, I just didn't make good shots," said the 21-year-old three-time national champion and debutant, Adrian Ang. "This is my second world meet and I'm staill happy to go home with two bronze medals."

Meanwhile Malaysia's female representative, Zatil Iman had a great start in the opening game but two low games in the second and fourth game dropped Zatil down the field of 10 finalists. Despite a strong rally towards the end, Zatil ended up in a respectable fifth position with 2116.

Third-seed, Krista Pollanen edged second-seed, Liza Del Rosario of the Philippines, 215-210 in the semifinals before upstaging favourite and topseed, Zara Glover of Great Britain, 407-378 to win the Women's Singles gold medal.

Despite trailing Glover 42 pins after the Finn lost, 172-214 in the first game. Pollanen displayed sheer determination to cut the deficit with a convincing 235 over the Brit's 164 for a well-deserved victory.

"I knew I was behind after I lost the first match, but I didn't give up," said the 36-year-old four-time Finish national champion, Krista. "And when Zara was struggling in the second match, I had to give all I got.

"This is my first World Games and I'm also happy to be the first women to win a gold for my country, Finland," added the Finn, who was part of the team who won the European Cup three times.

Colombia ended the tenpin bowling of the World Games as overall champion with 1 gold and 1 silver. Korea and Finland tied for second with 1 gold medal each. The next World Games in 2013 will be hosted by Colombia. Detailed scores: Men's Semi and Final Match and Women's Semi and Final Match.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kaohsiung.

21st July, Kaohsiung: Mixed Doubles bronze medalist, Adrian Ang and Zatil Iman both made the top 10 cut for the Singles Top 10 Round-Robin stage of the World Games Kaohsiung 2009 on Tuesday.

After winning the Mixed Doubles bronze medal, Adrian Ang was third in the overall standings and put in a scintillating performance in the first block of the Singles this morning by posting the highest 6-game series of 1378.

His effort for a 12-game total of 2705 took the 21-year-old youngster into second spot in the overall standings to trail Mixed Doubles gold medalist, Kong Byoung-Hee of Korea. Mixed Doubles Silver medalist, Manuel Otalora of Colombia finished third on 2650.

When the men returned to the lanes for their second block, Adrian did not fare too well and only managing 1169 over the six games. Ang's 18-game total of 3874 dropped one spot to third but crucially making the top 10 cut into the next stage.

Kong retained pole with a total of 3986 while PBA pro bowler and World Championship gold medalist, CHris Barnes shot the highest 6-game series in this block to haul himself into second spot on a total of 3904.

"I just bowl my game today and luckily I had a lot of carry and was able to get strikes in the first block," said the 21-year-old Adrian, who won the Mixed Doubles bronze medal yesterday.

Meanwhile, Zatil Iman also made the top 10 cut in the women's division in ninth position after she amassed a 3607 over 18-games. Zatil had 1249 in the Mixed Doubles, 1144 in the first block and 1214 in the second block.

Britain's Zara Glover, who led after the first block with 2541, topped the women's standings with a total of 3839 after she posted 1298 in the second block.

Overnight leader, Krista Pollanen of Finland finished second with a total of 3769 while local favourite, Wang Yu-Ling of Chinese Taipei did well to take up third spot with 3765.

"I started to play further left today and I feel more comfortable," said Zara Glover after the first block of Singles. "The lanes seem to be a bit more drier which helped me alot.

"I used the Siege for the first three games but when I got to lane 11 and 12, I had three splits so I had to switch to Pearl and that was better."

Germany's Patricia Luoto became the first-ever bowler to shoot a perfect game in the history of the World Games. She acheived the feat during the second game of the second block singles.

The top 10 men and top 10 women based on the 18-games pinfalls (6 from Mixed Doubles and 12 from Singles) will advance into the Round-Robin stage on Wednesday. Detailed scores: Men's Singles Blk2, and Women's Singles Blk2.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kaohsiung.

20th July, Kaohsiung: Zatil Iman and Adrian Ang of Malaysia, came away with a bronze medal in the opening Mixed Doubles event of the World Games Kaohsiung 2009 as Korea overpowered Colombia to claim the first gold on Monday.

Zatil Iman partnered Adrian Ang to finished third in the six-games Mixed Doubles event to advance into the semifinals but their dream of winning their first gold medal was dashed as they lost to eventual champion, Korea 391-421.

Both had an opened frame in the first frame which unsettled the Malaysian duo and did not manage to recover. Zatil ended the game with 194 while Adrian also posted 197. Gye Min Young shot 206 with her partner, Kong Byoung Hee scoring 215 to take the match.

The mighty Koreans went on to defeat topseed, Colombia 840-710 over two games to win their first gold. Colombia's Anggie Remirez and Manuel Otalora, who shot 402 and 308, settled for the silver medal.

"I'd settled into my strides quite quickly but somehow, the first frame split in the semifinals put me off," said the debutant, Zatil Iman. "Adrian bowled well today and he covered for me throughout."

"I must admit I was a little tense in the beginning of the event but once we started to bowl well, we were enjoying the game," said the three-time Milo Junior All Stars champion, Adrian Ang.

"We just couldn't get good lines and Zatil is right, the opened frame in the beginning put us on our backfoot, but we're glad we got a bronze medal in our opening event.

The Malaysia pair had started off in ninth then crawled their way up to third and eventualy completed the six games with a total of 2576. Korea trailed throughout to finish second with 2588 while the Colombians topped the field with 2605.

Kong Byoung Hee posted the highest 6-game series of 1439 with Alejandro Cruz of Mexico second with 1411 and Manuel Otalora third with 1342. Adrian took fourth spot with 1327.

Top spot went to Finland's Krista Pollanen with 1290 followed by Filipina, Liza Del Rosario second and Anggie Ramirez third with 1266 and 1263 respectively. Zatil also finished fourth with 1249.

The top 10 after 18 games (6 from mixed doubles and 12 from singles) will advance to the Singles Round-robin matchplay finals on Wednesday. Detailed scores: Mixed Doubles, and Mixed Doubles Semi and Finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kaohsiung.

19th July, Kaohsiung: Malaysian debutants, Adrian Ang and Zatil Iman are ready for the challenge at the World Games Kaohsiung 2009 which will get underway at Happy Bowling Center on Monday.

Two-time national champion and reigning Junior All-Stars champion, Adrian Ang is beeming with confidence as he faces some of the world's best bowlers at the World Games Kaohsiung 2009 tomorrow.

Debuting for first-ever world meet, the 21-year-old member of the National Elite squad certainly has the credentials to warrant his selectors. Ang tasted his first success when he took the Milo Junior All Stars title in 2004 when he just turned 17.

The following year, he stunned his more illustrious senior national team members when he was crowned the national champion the following year in 2005. To prove that it was no fluke, Ang successfully defended the national title when he was crowned again in 2006.

He was then given the opportunity to prove his place in the Elite squad and he did it in style winning the Team gold at the 2006 Asian Championship in Jakarta. He then capped off a superb 2007 by winning the Euromed-Storm International Challenge title and a Team Gold at the Korat SEA Games the same year.

Also making her debut is Zatil Iman, the 2007 Singapore International Open champion. Despite not being selected for the World Women's Championship in Las Vegas later this month, her disappointment was made by being selected to represent Malaysia at the World Games.

She will partner Ang in the Mixed Doubles event which kicks off the championship tomorrow. A total of 23 nations minus Puerto Rico which pulled out a few days agao, will field one male and one female for the three-day competition comprising of Mixed Doubles and Singles. The Mixed Doubles will kick off the championship on Monday morning.

The teams will play 6 games and the top 3 teams at the end of the block will advance into the semifinals. Second-seed will play third-seed over one game for total pinfalls and the winning team will advance into the finals against the topseed.

Two-games total pinfall in the finals will determine the gold and silver medalist while the loser of the first match will take home the bronze.

Some of the world-class bowlers such as top European ranked, Osku Palermaa of Finland will Krista Pollanen in the doubles and will face strong challenges from Germany's Achim Grabowski and Patricia Luoto.

Asia's challenge will come from two-time Asian Ranked No. 1, Wu Siu Hong and 2008 Asian Ranked No. 1 women, Chan Shuk Han of Hong

Kong. Also featured is World Champion, Remy Ong and Jennifer Tan of Singapore.

Asian Champion, Chester King teamed up with multiple open title champion, Liza Del Rosario of the Philippines while Asia powerhouse Korea has World champion, Gye Min-Young and Kong Byoung-Hee will surely be strong favourites.

The strongest pair from the America will undoubtedly be multiple PBA titles and World champion, Chris Barnes who will be paired with Stephanie Nation representing USA.

The Singles for men and women, which will be contested on Tuesday, comprise of two 6-games block and the top 10 from a total of 18 games (6 in the mixed doubles and 12 in the singles) will make the cut for another 10-game Singles matchplay round-robin from scratch on Wednesday.

The top 3 at the end of the round-robin Singles will advance into the semifinals and finals. Again, the second-seed will play the third-seed in a one-game matchplay style and the winner will advance to meet the topseed for a two-game total pinfalls to determine the champion.

Meanwhile, the team managers' meeting was held earlier this morning where chaired by tournament manager and ABF Vice President, Danny Santos. He is assisted by Singapore's William Woo, who is the technical official dressing the lanes.

Mr Chen Tong-Hui, President of the Chinese Taipei Bowling Association, is appointed the technical delegate with EBF President and FIQ secretary general, Adie Ophelders, PABCON President, Jose Guandique and ABF Exco member, Takaya Aizawa of Japan as Jury of Appeal.

The format of play, confirmation of players and lane draws were conducted during the meeting which lasted almost two hours.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Kaohsiung.