KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are on course for another gold medal at the Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships in Bangkok after roaring performances from Sin Li Jane, Natasha Roslan and Gillian Lim in the first block of the women's trios on Friday.
Li Jane and Natasha, fresh off a victory in women's doubles, kept their fine form going as they joined forces with Gillian to fire a 1,961 total, putting them at the top of the 27-team leaderboard.
Singapore's Bernice Lim, Daphne Tan, and New Hui Fen posted 1,921 to sit second, while the Philippines' Kirzziah Macatula, Marie Alexis Sy, and Lara Posadas finished third with 1,839.
Malaysia are seeking to reclaim the title they last won in the Kuwait edition in 2019.
Then, Li Jane formed part of the victorious trios that also included Shalin Zulkifli and Esther Cheah.
Another Malaysian combination, Faten Najihah Ahmad Faik, Nur Syazwani Sahar and Nora Lyana Nastasia Norkamal, find themselves having plenty to catch up on after starting with a modest 1,666 total to lie in 17th spot.
In the men's competition, Izz Naqiuddin Putera Islahuddin, Shaqeem Izwan Teh Shahrul Hafiz Teh and Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam will head into the second block with a 113-pin deficit behind South Korea's pace-setters after they combined to shoot a 1,891 total.
Kim Kyung Min, Hwang Dong Wook and Bae Jung Hun posted an impressive 2,004, while Park Dong Hyuk, Lee Ik Kyu, and Kang Myung Jin completed a Korean 1-2 domination at the halfway stage by chalking up 1,939 pinfalls.
Rafiq Ismail, Hafiz Zainuddin, and Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek have their work cut out for them if they harbour hope of contending for gold, as they could only muster an opening 1,851. They sit 147 pins behind the leaders.
Malaysia won the men's trios event in the past two editions, where Rafiq was part of the victorious squad on both occasions.