Joke Turns to Gold for S'pore Buddies

Shi En and Irdina get their pairing wish, then deliver on their promised girls' doubles title

- Kimberly Kwek

Even before they knew they would be paired for the girls' doubles event at the Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships, Singapore's Lim Shi En and Nur Irdina Hazly joked that they would win gold if they bowled together.

At the Sunway Megalanes in Petaling Jaya on Aug 23, the pair delivered on that promise as they claimed the girls' doubles title with a 2,637-pinfall total, way ahead of South Korea's Paek Ye-dam and Jo Yoon-seo (2,473) and Japan's Kiri Watanabe and Mao Kondoh (2,456).

For both of them, the victory was especially meaningful.

Irdina, 18, said: "Even though we have eyes on the gold, we knew that all we needed to do was focus on our shot-making and I felt like we did that pretty well today.

"We brushed off bad shots and bounced back for the next one. Overall, with this being Shi En's last Asian youth championship, being able to double with her and win the gold medal together is definitely one to remember."

Shi En said that when it was confirmed they would be partnering, they reminded each other to just be themselves and make every shot count, which she believes contributed to their victory.