Hong Kong Open Masters champion Bandar Al-Shafi of Qatar defeated Oh Young Ki, Korea, 235-226, in the title match of the Asian Bowling Federation Tour Hong Kong leg to win his second title within two days at Hong Kong Bowling City in Hong Kong, China.

Al Shafi (pictured left) sidelined his compatriot Saeed Al-Hajri in Round 1, 235-215, and Mubarak Al-Muraikhi, 205-140, in Round 2. In the semi-final, Al-Shafi posted the high game of the day to defeat 2006 World Championships Masters champion Biboy Rivera, Philippines, 258-225

In the other semi-final Young Ki denied Shaker Al-Hassan's bid for his second ABF Tour title of the year when he defeated the Saudi Arabia leg winner, 213-201.

On the women's side, Chen Dongdong (pictured right) from China held off local favorite Vanessa Fung, Hong Kong, 245-214.

Chen advanced to the final with a 196-185 victory over ABF Tour Tournament of Champions winner Chan Shuk Han, Hong Kong, while Fung defeated Tang Joh Six, Malaysia, 186-155.

Once again none of the national team players from Malaysia and Singapore participated in the Hong Kong Open Masters, which served as the qualifier for the ABF Tour Hong Kong leg.

The Chinese Taipei national bowlers left without participating in the ABF Tour just as they did in the Thailand Open in April. Only one male bowler stayed behind after getting permission from his father who is his coach.

"Malaysia, Chinese Taipei and Singapore are boycotting the ABF Tour for the second year now," said Vivien Fung (pictured), Chairman of the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress and Chairman of the ABF Tour Committee. "Their bowlers are forced by the federations not to participate in the Tour."

"The boycott started in 2007 after the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress 300 Perfect Game Award issue", Fung explained. "Singapore has started the same boycott since last year. Remy Ong did not get enough points to make it into the Tournament of Champions despite winning the 2006 Hong Kong leg. Since then the Singapore Bowling Federation did not send the national team to the Kuwait Open and other West Asia Open besides the Hong Kong Open."

The Chinese Taipei bowling federation has another reason to boycott the ABF Tour. "The Chinese Taipei Bowling Association's President thinks the decision of ABF and the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) to hold the official championships and Games on short and long oil condition puts the Chinese Taipei spinners at a disadvantage. However, the spinners from Mainland China were actually winning medals in the World Women Championships in Denmark in 2005 and the Asian Indoor Games in 2007 " Fung added.

"It is difficult to find sponsors for the Tour these days. However, we make sure that there will be prize money for the ABF Tour-Tournament of Champion especially with the help from Christina Koo of Jaya Ancol Bowl in Jakarta who has been very generous in the past two years personally raising the prize money to US$100,000. "

Pictures and results courtesy of ABF Tour.