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KORAT, Thailand: The task was straightforward for Remy Ong — knock down nine pins and gold would belong to the Singapore men's trios bowling team. He did not disappoint.
Displaying nerves of steel, the reigning men's world champion delivered for Singapore to edge out Indonesia by a single point in a thrilling finish at the 24th SEA Games at Bangkok's SF Strike Bowl Ramkhamhaeng on Monday.
Together with Shaun Ng — who had won the men's singles last Saturday — and Jason Yeong-Nathan, the trio posted a combined total of 3,490 pinfalls from six games.
Indonesia's threesome of Ryan Lalisang, Haqi Rumandung and Oscar Oscar totalled 3,489 pinfalls to take silver, while Malaysia's Adrian Ang, Aaron Kong and Zulkifli Zul Mazran (3,486 pinfalls) bagged the bronze.
Ng, Ong and Yeong-Nathan tallied 1,198, 1,108 and 1,184 pinfalls, respectively.
"I knew I had to get the nine pins. It was as simple as that. Nine to win, eight to draw," said Ong, the Sportsman of the Year for 2006, in a phone interview from Bangkok last night. I had hit it high on the 10th frame and needed to pick up the spare. It was a really, really close fight.
"But this gold medal is really a team effort, not just mine. Everyone chipped in and worked really hard for this."
With Evelyn Chan, Amanda Ng and Jasmine Yeong-Nathan clinching bronze in the women's trios with a 3,489 combined pinfall total, it brought Singapore's overall medal tally in bowling to two golds and one bronze.
Jason was actually not aware of how close the contest for the gold medal was.
"We knew roughly that we were trailing by over 70 pinfalls after the first three games and by about 35 pinfalls after five games," he said.
"But we didn't realise it was that close. I think only Remy was aware of it.
"It was difficult to read the lanes, and we kept moving the ball around and fortunately, we managed to find our lines in time."
While the men's trios team will pocket $15,000 under the Singapore National Olympic Council's Multi-million dollar Awards Programme (MAP) for their gold medal, celebrations will have to be put on hold for now.
On Tuesday, the 12-strong squad will turn their attention to the Team events, before the Masters events on Wednesday and Friday's mixed doubles.
- TODAY/ac
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