22nd October, Petaling Jaya: Fourth-seed, Vladslav Ialovega and third-seed, Vadym Danyliuk dominated the first day of the 24th Deaflympics Bowling Competitions 2021 by winning the Men's Singles gold and silver medals.

Ialovega earned a spot in the final match after narrowly beating top-seed, Oliver Wulf Kristensen of Denmark by a single pin, 178-177 in the first semi-final match. His team-mate, Danyliuk survived a one-ball roll-off with two strikes to Korea's An Seongjo's one strike and 9-pin count to break the tie and set up an all-Ukrainian final.

Danyliuk's luck ran out when he was beaten by Ialovega, 202-214 in the final match to settle for the silver and Ialovega clinching the gold medal. Kristensen and An took home a bronze medal each as losing semi-finalists.

In the earlier six-games qualification round, Mohd Firdus Mohamad gave host nation, Malaysia hopes of a medal when he took an early lead with 269 in his first game, 43 pins ahead of Hsieh Sheng-Fu of Chinese Taipei in second.

Ialovega led for another game with 225 but soon found himself trailing Kristensen when the Dane took over the running after the fourth game. The lanky Kristensen went on to end the round with 1238 to claim top spot.

The Korean, An finished strongly to snatch second spot with 1185, 52 pins adrift. Danyliuk edged Ialovega for third spot with 1183 with the latter clinching the fourth and last semi-final spot with 1176. Chen Chien-Hao of Chinese Taipei missed the cut by five pins with 1171. Mohammed, who was in the top four before the final game, had a disasterous end with 136 to drop out of a semi-final spot.

Dr Adam Kosa, President of ICSD presented the medals to the winners while Mrs Petra Ponevacs-Pana, Ambassador of Hungary and En. Ong Shin Ruenn, President of MSDeaf presented the mascots. Tokens of appreciation were also presented to Dr Kosa and Mrs Ponevacs-Pana for taking time off for the medal ceremony.

The women will resume competition with their six-games Singles qualification round tomorrow morning, October 23. The top four finishers at the end of the round will advance to the Semi-final shootout for medals.