Bowling: On top of the world

She won the women's bowling World Cup title in 2012, and now she is a world champion again after lifting the All Events gold at the Women's World Bowling Championships in Abu Dhabi last week.

Singapore bowler Shayna Ng, who won five medals - including a trios silver and bronze in the singles, doubles and team events - will not rest until the national women team win gold at the world championships.

Speaking to The New Paper after the team touched down at Changi Airport yesterday morning, the 26-year-old said: "This is by far the best achievement of my bowling career.

"At this world championships, there were 147 bowlers - up to six from each country - which made it far more competitive and prestigious than the World Cup, which is made up of just one bowler from each country.

"My dream has always been for Singapore to win the team event at the world championships.

"Okay, we won bronze this year which is not too bad. But it would be so much better, even better than my individual gold, if our team come back as world champions."

The next world championships will be in Kuwait in 2017.

Ng certainly stamped her mark in this year's edition, where she was involved in a scintillating finish to win the All Events gold.

She defeated United States Bowling Congress Hall-of-Famer Liz Johnson to clinch the All Events crown.

PRESSURE

Ng, who also holds the world championship six-game record of 1,601 pinfalls, set in Hong Kong 2011, added: "It's all about handling the pressure. There is no way out, you just have to manage it. But we are in this for the adrenaline rush. If there's no pressure, then it wouldn't be as fun."

And boy, did she handle the heat with class and composure.

"To beat Liz, a United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer who has won just about everything there is to win, by one pin, feels very fulfilling," said the Singapore star.

"The All Events recognises consistency on both the long and short oiling patterns. Some bowlers may do better on one but not the other, but we trained very hard for this competition and I felt comfortable on both.

"Winning by one pin was a matter of luck and skill but overall, you have to do well every day. It's really tedious and draining. On the last day, I 'died' and slept the whole day."

Ng will have a much-needed and well-deserved rest from now till Jan 4.

As she reflected over the last 10 years since she first made the national team in 2006, there is one person she singles out above Singapore Bowling, the federation's team of coaches, president Jessie Phua and major sponsors Canon and Storm.

The 2014 Sportswoman of the Year, who must now be a frontrunner to win the crown again next year, said: "Becoming a world champion wasn't something I planned for. With a lot of hard work and sacrifice, everything just fell into place.

"A lot of credit must go to national deputy head coach Francis Yeo.

"He was the one who groomed me and strengthened the physical aspect of my game when I was demoted from the national team due to poor performance just a year after I made the squad.

"He worked on my timing and footwork, which are the foundations of a top bowler.

"My coaches played a big role in bringing me back to this level of bowling again.

"People used to congratulate me for finishing within the medals and not necessary winning the gold.

"Now when I finish second, people are asking me why I'm not winning gold.

"It feels great to be on top again and I will know better how to deal with expectations."

davidlee@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on December 16, 2015.
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