Tan bags Asian Youth bowl title

Philippine bowling is beginning to reap the dividends of hard labor in its youth program, with 19-year-old Merwin Tan winning the 20th Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships late Saturday in Sarawak, Malaysia.

“We are seeing our programs bear fruit,” said Alex Lim, chair of the Philippine Bowling Federation’s youth committee.

Tan, a regular national team fixture, topped the boys’ singles category against bets from nine other countries after amassing 1,353 pinfalls in six games.

Australia’s William Clark secured the silver medal with 1,334 and Park Sang-hyeok of South Korea placed third after rolling a total of 1,326.

“Merwin had to bowl a good last game to maintain the lead, and he was very composed,” said PBF secretary general Bong Coo.

Backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Tan’s rousing performance was a fitting followup to the youth team’s pair of bronze medals last month in the world junior championships in France.