Singaporean bowlers strike gold and silver at IBF World Bowling Championships

SINGAPORE: Singaporean bowlers achieved a historic one-two finish at the IBF World Bowling Championships held in Kuwait on Monday, Oct 9.

Darren Ong emerged as the champion, defeating his teammate Jaris Goh in the men’s singles final with scores of 184-179 and 208-164 to claim the gold.

This victory marks the first time a male Singaporean bowler has won the singles title at the world championships since Remy Ong’s triumph in South Korea back in 2006.

In the semi-finals, Ong came from behind to beat Germany’s Tobias Bording with scores of 208-222, 224-173, and 225-213.

Goh, on the other hand, overcame Qatar’s Ghanim Aboujassoum with scores of 211-204 and 248-242.

Men’s Singles Semi-finals. (Photo: 2023 IBF World Bowling Championship)

Men’s Singles Final. (Photo: 2023 IBF World Bowling Championship)

All-Singaporean final

Their impressive performances ensured an all-Singaporean final.

Singapore Bowling Federation took to social media to express their joy, celebrating the achievement, and calling both Goh and Ong new world champions.

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The competition at the Kuwait Bowling Sporting Club was intense, with only the group winners advancing to the second round.

Ong and Goh both topped their respective six-man pools to secure their spots in the second round.

In the second round, Ong had to rely on a roll-off to progress to the semi-finals, tied on points with United Arab Emirates’ Sultan Ql Qubaisi, alongside Goh, Aboujassoum, and Bording.

Darren Ong, who had previously won his first individual international title in the Philippine International Open, expressed his shock at his latest win, acknowledging the significance of Remy Ong’s victory as the last male world champion from Singapore but emphasizing the differences in generations of bowlers.

“I think it hasn’t quite sunk in yet. I do want to thank my team, especially Jaris, who I bowled against in the final.

“I knew Remy was the last world champion for sure, but I didn’t know how long (ago) it was.

“I don’t really want to compare anything, I think it’s a different generation of bowlers now. If it wasn’t me, it would have been Jaris today,” he said.

Jaris Goh emphasized the importance of Singapore winning, regardless of who secured the gold, considering the tournament’s highly competitive nature.

He said: “It has been a very cut-throat tournament for everybody, I’ve been really lucky to make it all the way.

“As long as Singapore wins, I think it is the most important thing, because somebody’s got to lose.”

While Ong and Goh celebrated their gold and silver medals as a testament to their training and preparation, they remained cautious about the challenges ahead in the doubles, trios, and team categories, recognizing that every day in the lanes presents new lessons and opportunities.

“a good day doesn’t mean that tomorrow will be the same,” Ong said.

This historic achievement by Singaporean bowlers demonstrates their excellence in the world of bowling, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s sporting history.