Claiming the women's singles gold at the Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships last September not only ended a nine-year individual title drought for national bowler Daphne Tan. But more importantly, it also restored her confidence, which proved to be a key factor in her success in 2024.
The belief was evident as just days after her victory at Blu-O Rhythm and Bowl in Bangkok, Tan teamed up with Bernice Lim and New Hui Fen to claim the women's trios title at the continental event.
The 34-year-old's achievements earned her the Bowler of the Year honour at the Singapore Bowling Federation's (SBF) annual awards night held at the Orchid Country Club on April 2. She said: "It's an honour to win amongst the rest of my teammates because they had a pretty good year. To win is a recognition of my achievements."
The Bangkok triumph marked her first singles victory since the 2015 SEA Games on home soil. Her closest finish since then was fourth place at the Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) BowlTV Classic in 2022.
The wait for another individual title required patience, which at times proved challenging as she struggled with self-belief, despite assurances by her coaches that the tide will turn.
RelatedStory
- 'I was very shocked': Man with active lifestyle diagnosed with kidney disease
Tan said: "Actually the Asian Bowling Championships felt like a relief more than 'Wow, I won'. The last singles that I won was nine years ago. I didn't even realise that it was that long.
"Previously, I was always working hard but not really consistently winning like my sister (Cherie), and then you start wondering 'When is it going to be my turn?'
"It was a bit of a relief and to carry forward that momentum into the (International Bowling Federation) World Cup (in January) feels like the hard work is paying off."
At the World Cup in Hong Kong, Tan won joint bronzes in the singles and team events and the results have galvanised her in her bowling career as she gears up for a packed schedule for the rest of the year.
Her next tournaments include the Malaysia Open from April 7 to 20, PWBA Tour events and the International Bowling Federation (IBF) World Championships.
Meanwhile, Arianne Tay was named the Youth Bowler of the Year for the second time since winning the award for her breakthrough 2019 season.
She secured one gold, one silver and one bronze at the IBF World Youth Championships in 2024 and also clinched the women's masters title at the Thailand International Open for her second senior individual win.
Wrist and knee injuries in 2022 had left her concerned over her bowling future, but the 20-year-old's performances last year reassured her that she was back on track.
Now, she is looking forward to taking the step up. Apart from the Malaysia Open, other events that are lined up for Tay include those on the PWBA Tour and the Singapore International Open in June.
She is also hoping to secure a spot at the SEA Games in Thailand in December as bowling returns to the biennial meet after it was excluded at the previous edition.
The Singapore Management University undergraduate said: "It feels quite fitting because this is the end of my youth journey...
"I won Youth Bowler of the Year for 2019 and that was at the start of my youth career and now to end it on a good note, it's telling me that I'm in the right direction and I hope my progress will continue for the next couple of years."
Hailing the accomplishments of the bowling fraternity, SBF president Valerie Teo said: "Looking back at 2024, it was certainly one of tremendous achievement for all of us at Singapore Bowling. From juniors to seniors, we certainly made waves and showed up and showed that we are a force to be reckoned with...
"As we move forward, we are excited for the future of bowling in Singapore. With the continued support of our partners and sponsors, we will strive to create even more opportunities for our athletes to excel and the sport to thrive."
