Youth Bowlers Show Up Big At IBF World Cup

Bowling: IBF Youth World Cup

Singapore’s rising bowling stars Lim Shi En and Brian Ngoi made their mark at the 2025 IBF Youth World Cup in Sweden from 15 to 22 June 2025, finishing just shy of the podium in a commendable 4th place.

For 17-year-old Lim Shi En, the tournament was more than just about pins and podiums. Making her debut on the world stage outside of Asia, Shi En swept into the Women’s semi-finals with a convincing 2-0 win over Colombia’s Sara Duque. Though she eventually bowed out to the defending champion and missed bronze in a nail-biting clash against Denmark’s Karen Nielsen, Shi En left the lanes with pride.

"Playing in the IBF Youth World Cup was definitely an eye-opener for me," she shared. "It pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me realise how much more there is to learn and improve. At the same time, I felt proud that I was able to cope with the pressure. It showed that all the hours of training and sacrifices I’ve made really paid off."

What stood out most for Shi En was not just the technical game, but the mental one. "Even small comebacks within a game felt like major wins. I didn’t let the tough moments bring me down. Instead, I kept fighting and found ways to bounce back mentally and physically," she said.

She faced her share of challenges too. "Staying mentally composed when things weren’t going my way was tough. But I reminded myself to trust the process, stick to my routines, and stay focused. Every opponent pushed me to level up."

On the men’s side, Brian Ngoi was unstoppable in the early rounds. He breezed past his Australian opponent and delivered a perfect game against Czech Republic’s Ondrej Prekop. Unfortunately, he was edged out of the final and the bronze medal by just two pins in a heart-stopping match against Finland’s Luukas Vaananen.

Despite the narrow miss, both athletes walked away with plenty gained.

"This tournament added so much to my journey," said Shi En. "It tested my skills, my mindset, and reminded me why I love this sport. I’m walking away not just a better bowler, but a more focused and resilient athlete."

Despite finishing 4th, Shi En and Brian can be proud as they have proven they belong on the world stage. The pins will fall their way soon enough.