Action at the 13th CGSE World Youth Championships shifted to the Doubles event on Sunday as the 13 girls and 18 boys doubles took to the 40 lanes at SCAA Bowling Center in Hong Kong, China, to bowl their six-game qualifying block.

Kim Kyoung Sil and Kim Hee Been (left, r-l) of Korea and Markus Jansson and Pontus Andersson (right, r-l) of Sweden toppled 2391 and 2679 pins, respectively, to set the tone in the girls and boys division after the first squad.

The 196 boys and 96 girls from 46 countries were split into four squads (A, B, C and D) to bowl six games on the 45 feet Mexico City lane conditioning pattern. The top 4 duos will bowl for the medals in Monday evening's playoffs. Korea is the defending champion for both, girls and boys.

The only duo that posted a notable score on Sunday morning were the Swedes, who averaged 223.25 for the day including games of 413, 395, 478, 406, 455 and 532, the highest game of the event so far.

Andersson led the way with 1371 while Jansson, son of World and European champion Raymond Jansson, contributed 1308 pins. No other player surpassed the 1300-mark in this squad. The photo shows Jansson and Andersson with coach Robert Andersson, left, a former World and World Youth Doubles champion himself.

The Swedes out averaged their nearest competitors from Kuwait, Mostafa Al Mousawi and Abdulrahman Suwayed by more than 22 pins.

The Kuwaitis were the only other duo that reaches the 1200-mark (200 average), totaling 2407 pins or an average of 200.58. They led the Swedes after three games by four pins, 1290 to 1286, but fell 272 pins behind in the second three-game block.

Singapore's Alex Chong and Alexander Tan (pictured right, r-l) were further 35 pins behind in third place with 2372 while Indonesia's Diwan Rezaldy Syahril and Imam Wiguna rounded out the top 4 with 2350.

None of the 13 girls' doubles in Squad A averaged 200. The Koreans became the early leaders with 2391 and an average of 199.25. Kim Kyoung Sil led the duo with 1207, one of two 1200-series in the round. Kim Hee Been added 1184.

Sweden's Annie Thorell and Cajsa Wegner (left, r-l) were 59 pins behind in second place with 2332, followed by Junior Team USA members, Stephanie Schwartz and Mary Wells with 2302. Fourth place belonged to Jonna Jokinen and Eliisa Hiltunen of Finland with 2275.

Wells, who rolled the highest girls series (1249), leads the group of players who have completed two six-game blocks in All-Events with 2448 204 average). Jansson and Andersson pace Boys All-Events with 2603 and 2579, respectively.

Qualifying continues Sunday with Squad B and concludes on Monday with Squads C and D. The top 4 doubles in both divisions will advance to the playoffs on Monday evening. No. 1 bowls No. 4 and No. 2 takes on No. 3 in the semifinals slated for 6 p.m. Hong Kong time. The winners bowl for gold and silver while the losers get bronze.


In cooperation with the Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) and the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress, Bowlingdigital.com will cover the Championships live from Hong Kong.

The United States Bowling Congress is working in cooperation with the host federation, the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress, to provide live streaming on BowlTV.


This World Youth Championships is made possible by title sponsor, The Chinese Gold & Silver Exchange Society World, and co-sponsors Chancellor Precious Metals, Fine Metal Asia Limited, Glory Sky and Safe Gold Bullion Limited as well as Watsons Water and Mr. Juicy, the Official Drink Sponsor of the event.