KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are on course for two more gold medals at the Asian Junior Bowling Championships after encouraging performances from Ethan Damien Goh and Nur Ainul Hayat Ad Nor in the boys and girls' Masters today.
Ethan, the singles bronze medallist, fired a 1,837 total over eight games at Sunway Mega Lanes to top the 16-boy standings ahead of second-placed Jovi Ma of Hong Kong (1,828) and third-placed Ibrahim Al Moreikhi of Qatar (1,810).
The Masters events, which feature 16 finalists each in the boys and girls' division, will see all players taking on each other in a round-robin where a win will reward them with a bonus of 10 pins.
Ethan won five of his eight matches.
Wan Zarif Ikram was the second-best placed local after he secured four wins en route to chalking up 1,776 pinfalls and sits fourth and just 14 pins off third place.
The top three finishers after 16 games will advance to the stepladder finals tomorrow.
The other two Malaysians in action, Aiman Syahin (1,688) and Danial Abu Samah (1,666), have their work cut out for them as they reached the midway point in the seventh and ninth spots respectively.
There's also a strong likelihood that Malaysia might mount a serious challenge in the girls' division with five members led by Ainul dominating the top eight standings.
Ainul was the best-placed in third after recording six wins for a 1,638 total, sitting behind Singapore duo Hazel Tan (1,752) and Ashley Victoria Lok (1,651).
Adelia Nur Irwan Syazalee (1,629), Intan Nor Edryana Azliman (1,595), Afiqah Kamalia Ali (1,579) and Qurratu'ain Izdihar Pozi (1,576) also did well to be in contention to make the cut for medal playoff.
But it was as good as over for Khairin Batrisya Ahmad Lufti, who posted a dismal 1,434 to be placed last and a whopping 204 pins off third place.
Malaysia have won two gold, two silver and two bronze medals to date.
The two gold medals were delivered by Afiqah in the girls' all-events and girls' team comprising also Intan, Ainul and Adelia.