HEE Kar Yen is on course to end Malaysia's 14-year-title drought in girls' singles at the World Youth Championships after the debutante advanced to the semi-finals in Bangkok yesterday.
The 19-year-old upset the form book by topping the 96-field standings with lines of 214, 212, 194, 215, 269, 194 for a 1,298 total, averaging 216.33.
South Korea's Kim Seon Jeong finished second, seven pins behind Kar Yen, followed by Colombia's Juliana Franco (1,280) and Puerto Rico's Cristina Rodriguez (1,269).
Kar Yen will face Cristina in a one-game match in tomorrow's semi-finals and if the Malaysians wins, she will stand a chance to emulate Shalin Zulkifli's triumph in the 1998 edition in Korea.
"Kar Yen's high score of 269 pins in the fifth game made a huge difference today (yesterday) as it earned her a semi-final spot," said team manager Cheah Ban Cheng yesterday.
"All she needs to do before the semi-finals is to remain focused and confident. She must also follow the instructions of coach Ben Heng during the match."
Kar Yen, a national elite bowler, has never won a major career title except for last year's ABF Tour Indonesia Leg last year.
Compatriots Sin Li Jane (1,218) and Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore (1,216) were expected to make a huge impression but finished 10th and 11th respectively while Dayang Khairuniza Dhiyana occupied 13th spot on 1,215.
"Jacqueline and Li Jane were the fancied ones but they could not perform. Anyone of them could have made the semi-finals if they were consistent.
"We are, however, satisfied with our bowlers' overall performance here," Ban Cheng added.
The boys' singles event was due to start late yesterday.