Emily Hart Clinches Silver in Thrilling Finish at 22nd Asian Junior Tenpin Bowling Championship
By Matt Stevens
A night of intense competition at the 22nd Asian Junior Tenpin Bowling Championship in Singapore witnessed a stunning performance as South Australian Emily Hart secured the coveted SILVER medal in the Girl’s Singles event.
In an adrenaline-pumping sixth game, the leaderboard experienced a dynamic shift.
Victorian bowler Shanae Key, who had held onto the bronze medal position with a Squad A score of 1,199, found herself in a fierce battle for podium glory. Meanwhile, Emily Hart was positioned in the 8th spot, facing a considerable gap of 220 pins from the medal standings. Despite already showcasing her prowess with impressive scores of 215 and 243 in two earlier games, Emily had something extraordinary in store for the final game.
With a never say die attitude and supreme skill, Emily Hart unleashed a dominating performance in her last game, amassing an exceptional score of 264. This remarkable feat enabled her to surge past her competitors, seizing the silver medal in a dramatic finish.
However, the event also brought a touch of heartbreak for Shanae Key, as her performance took a dip, pushing her just below the desired medal line. Ultimately, Shanae finished in an admirable 4th position, a mere 24 pins away from the bronze. Nevertheless, Shanae’s outstanding performance was especially noteworthy given that it marked her inaugural appearance representing Australia in the iconic green and gold colours.
For Emily Hart, this accomplishment marked her first medal in an international competition, a testament to her dedication and relentless hard work. Adding to the celebration, Emily Hart’s victory marked Australia’s first medal in a girl’s singles event since 2017. Emily Johnston had previously clinched silver during the 18th edition held in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, further highlighting the historic nature of Emily Hart’s achievement.
The Australian female bowlers made an impressive mark, with five out of the eight participants securing a top-25 position in the singles event. The promising start is a great start to a week-long full of more opportunities for the bowlers.
Tenpin Bowling Australia extends its congratulations to Emily Hart for this remarkable accomplishment, acknowledging her hard work, dedication, and extraordinary achievement on the international stage.
On the boys’ side, Nicholas Rajkovic emerged as a standout performer among the Australian contingent. The Victorian talent delivered a consistent performance, averaging an impressive 213 over six games, culminating in a total score of 1,278. His exceptional showing positioned him a mere 19 pins away from clinching the bronze medal.
Blake Walsh overcame early challenges to conclude with a triumphant finish. He rallied with remarkable scores of 211, 225, and 201, securing a commendable 22nd position in the singles event. Following closely behind, Seth Gray, who also struggled early, grew into the atmosphere as it went on to claim the 23rd position, only 2 pins away from Walsh.
As the event set the stage for an action-packed week, the anticipation heightened with the upcoming Doubles event on the agenda. The competition will kick off with Boy’s and Girl’s Squad A taking the lanes at 11:00 am AEST.
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Credit to the abf-online.org for the photos supplied.
