Malaysian wins first bowling gold medal

By I. Christianto

JAKARTA (JP): Malaysian bowler Ricky Chen made a perfect Games debut yesterday by winning the first bowling gold in the men's single tenpin bowling.

In the women's single tenpin event, Singaporean Catherine Kang scuttled the hopes of Indonesian Poppy Maryke Tambis, who shared silver with Phetchara Kaewsuk of Thailand at the bowling alley at the Mega Mal Pluit.

Chen scored 1,313 to beat Tommy Ong of Singapore (1,309) and Rafael Nepomuceno of the Philippines (1,284).

"The location is good. It's a great place and makes me more confident," he said.

A bowler since the age of 15, he won the KL Championship last year and was second in his national event in 1995.

"I love sports and games," he said.

Forty-two bowlers from seven Southeast Asian countries competed in the men's division. Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam did not participate.

Indonesia's male bowlers were Lie Joe Tjam (Yuyu), Ryan L. Lalisang, Donto Nurachman, Gatot A. Nugroho, Oyke E. Wayong and David Sitorus. Yuyu, 33, was sixth with 1,242 and Ryan, only 17, made 1,189.

Chairman of the bowling organizing committee, Erwin Pohe, said Yuyu had tried his best but the competition was strong.

"The standard of the top eight bowlers was very competitive, almost similar. They were balanced."

Yuyu scored an average 207 in yesterday's competition, higher than 200 during his practices, Pohe added.

"We know our rivals from the Philippines and Singapore are very tough," he said.

He said Indonesia targeted only two bowling golds from the 12 available during the Games.

"There are limited bowling centers and facilities in Indonesia and the sport is less popular. In other countries like the Philippines it's very popular just like badminton in Indonesia."

In the women's, Kang scored 1,291.

Tambis and Kaewsuk scored 1,245.

Participants in the women's event were from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.