Swedish boys set doubles record at 2016 World Youth Championships
July 28, 2016
LINCOLN, Neb. - Sweden's Pontus Andersson and Jesper Svensson posted a record six-game total Thursday at the 2016 World Bowling Youth Championships to earn the top seed for the doubles semifinals.
The duo averaged 234.58 on the way to a 2,815 total at Sun Valley Lanes, topping the previous mark of 2,790, set by Dominic Barrett and Matt Hann of England in 2008, the last time the World Youth Championships was held in the United States (Orlando, Florida).
Andersson led the way for the Swedish tandem Thursday with a 1,450 total, while Svensson used a key ball change late in the block to finish with games of 247 and 259 for a 1,365 effort.
Andersson was a doubles champion at the 2014 event in Hong Kong, but he doesn't want to think too far ahead. Right now, the focus is on continuing their blistering pace in the semifinals, where they will meet Malaysia's Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam and Rafiq Ismail, the No. 4 seeds, who earned the final spot in the medal round with 2,640.
The doubles semifinals will take place live on BowlTV on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern after the completion of qualifying on the girls' side.
"I am very happy with how we bowled today and that we get to bowl for a medal again," said Andersson, who won the gold medal in Hong Kong with Markus Jansson. "I'm not really thinking about the back-to-back wins, though. First, we will focus on the semifinals. But, of course, I am also happy we were able to beat the world record today."
Joining Sweden and Malaysia in the semifinals will be the No. 2 qualifiers from the United States, Anthony Simonsen and singles gold medalist Wesley Low (2,726), and No. 3 seeds Hector Simo and Wascar Cavallo of the Dominican Republic (2,655), who will face off on an adjacent pair of lanes.
Simo's bronze medal in singles Wednesday was the first World Youth Championships medal for the Dominican Republic, and Simo was glad to have the momentum carry over into doubles.
"I am feeling more comfortable on the oil pattern the more I bowl on it, and I definitely am feeling confident after singles," Simo said. "I've executed in a way I haven't in my whole life, and it means everything to see the time and money and hard work paying off. It is a pleasure for me to be here representing the Dominican Republic."
The two semifinal winners will battle for the doubles gold medal, while the losers share the bronze.
Svensson's ball change and big finish Thursday at Sun Valley Lanes was the result of lessons learned Wednesday during singles qualifying.
After becoming the fifth boy to roll a perfect game in World Youth Championships competition, Svensson struggled in his final two games, shooting 203 and 186 to miss the semifinals by 10 pins. Knowing he'd see the 45-foot oil pattern again this week in doubles, team and Masters competition, he took mental notes that paid off in doubles.
"I started off all right today, but I had some trouble the fourth game," said Svensson, the defending champion in boys' Masters at the World Youth Championships. "I made a ball change based on what I saw yesterday and was able to finish with two good games. It's an honor to be here competing for my national team. I just want to enjoy the moment and continue to bowl well."
Competition at the 2016 World Youth Championships continues with the first squad of girls' doubles live on BowlTV on Friday at 10 a.m. Eastern.
The week's event includes more than 200 competitors from 37 countries, and bowlers are competing for medals in five events - singles, doubles, team, all-events and Masters.
Bowling fans from around the globe will be able to watch the competition live on BOWL.com's BowlTV with continued coverage of all qualifying, semifinal and final rounds.
For complete information on the World Youth Championships, visit 2016wyc.worldbowling.org.
The complete live-streaming schedule (all times Eastern) can be found at BOWL.com/LiveStream.
The duo averaged 234.58 on the way to a 2,815 total at Sun Valley Lanes, topping the previous mark of 2,790, set by Dominic Barrett and Matt Hann of England in 2008, the last time the World Youth Championships was held in the United States (Orlando, Florida).
Andersson led the way for the Swedish tandem Thursday with a 1,450 total, while Svensson used a key ball change late in the block to finish with games of 247 and 259 for a 1,365 effort.
Andersson was a doubles champion at the 2014 event in Hong Kong, but he doesn't want to think too far ahead. Right now, the focus is on continuing their blistering pace in the semifinals, where they will meet Malaysia's Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam and Rafiq Ismail, the No. 4 seeds, who earned the final spot in the medal round with 2,640.
The doubles semifinals will take place live on BowlTV on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern after the completion of qualifying on the girls' side.
"I am very happy with how we bowled today and that we get to bowl for a medal again," said Andersson, who won the gold medal in Hong Kong with Markus Jansson. "I'm not really thinking about the back-to-back wins, though. First, we will focus on the semifinals. But, of course, I am also happy we were able to beat the world record today."
Joining Sweden and Malaysia in the semifinals will be the No. 2 qualifiers from the United States, Anthony Simonsen and singles gold medalist Wesley Low (2,726), and No. 3 seeds Hector Simo and Wascar Cavallo of the Dominican Republic (2,655), who will face off on an adjacent pair of lanes.
Simo's bronze medal in singles Wednesday was the first World Youth Championships medal for the Dominican Republic, and Simo was glad to have the momentum carry over into doubles."I am feeling more comfortable on the oil pattern the more I bowl on it, and I definitely am feeling confident after singles," Simo said. "I've executed in a way I haven't in my whole life, and it means everything to see the time and money and hard work paying off. It is a pleasure for me to be here representing the Dominican Republic."
The two semifinal winners will battle for the doubles gold medal, while the losers share the bronze.
Svensson's ball change and big finish Thursday at Sun Valley Lanes was the result of lessons learned Wednesday during singles qualifying.
After becoming the fifth boy to roll a perfect game in World Youth Championships competition, Svensson struggled in his final two games, shooting 203 and 186 to miss the semifinals by 10 pins. Knowing he'd see the 45-foot oil pattern again this week in doubles, team and Masters competition, he took mental notes that paid off in doubles.
"I started off all right today, but I had some trouble the fourth game," said Svensson, the defending champion in boys' Masters at the World Youth Championships. "I made a ball change based on what I saw yesterday and was able to finish with two good games. It's an honor to be here competing for my national team. I just want to enjoy the moment and continue to bowl well."
Competition at the 2016 World Youth Championships continues with the first squad of girls' doubles live on BowlTV on Friday at 10 a.m. Eastern.
The week's event includes more than 200 competitors from 37 countries, and bowlers are competing for medals in five events - singles, doubles, team, all-events and Masters.
Bowling fans from around the globe will be able to watch the competition live on BOWL.com's BowlTV with continued coverage of all qualifying, semifinal and final rounds.
For complete information on the World Youth Championships, visit 2016wyc.worldbowling.org.
The complete live-streaming schedule (all times Eastern) can be found at BOWL.com/LiveStream.