Bowling’s first official appearance in the Olympic Games: Seoul 1988

This article has been facilitated by Mr. Keith Hale on request of FIQ Secretary General Addie Ophelders.

WBW WORLDLETTER, September 1988

A Golden Day for Asian Bowlers: Olympic wins for Korea, Philippines

SOUTH KOREA – Asian bowlers reaped the rewards of bowling’s first official appearance in Olympic Games, netting a rare gold for the host country, and an even rarer gold for the Philippines, whose athletes had never before won the top award in any Olympic competition. Kwon Jong Jul kept the gold in South Korea when he captured the men’s division in an exciting finale that had the crowd urging him on. Meanwhile Arianne Cerdena became the Filipino ever to capture an Olympic gold when she won the women’s division.
Yul finished second, behind Singapore’s Jack Loke Chin in the 11-game preliminaries. Then, after a modest 177-164 victory over Finland’s Tapani Peltola in the preliminary stepladder match, Yul went on a strike binge. He stung top seed Chin, 236-194, to force a rematch under the double elimination format. With everything on the line, Yul clouted eight of 12 strikes to win the final match against Chin, 254-223.
The partisan Korean crowd greeted Kwon’s victory with undisguised glee, which included some obviously nationalistic flag-waving and a chorus of cheers rarely heard in the midst of usually antiseptic TV finale. ‘NBC Sports’ aired portions of the TV finale.
Meanwhile, the women’s finals featured a dramatic turn of events when Filipino Arianne Cerdena became the first Philippine athlete to capture a gold in the Olympics. Cerdena started out on the top rung of the stepladder after taking first place in the women’s round robin, followed by Finland’s Annikki Maattola and Japan’s Atsuko Asai. After disposing of Maattola, 209-187, in the preliminary, Asai went on to defeat Cerdena, 197-180, to force Cerdena into a rematch. The Filipino took charge in the last game, outpinning her opponent, 249-211.
Cerdena credited her victory to her coach, Ernesto Lopa, who insisted she try an outside line in the last game after nothing else worked for her in the first match. The victory may mean a huge monetary reward for Cerdena. Asia Breweries, makers of Kasrlsberg Beer, recently offered one million pesos (about U.S.$50,000) and a new home to any Filipino who could bring home the gold in the Seoul Olympics. True, bowling is only an exhibition sport, but a gold is still a gold. “We’re sure she’ll get something,” said coach Lopa. “But we won’t know for sure until we get home.”
In all, a total of 20 nations competed in bowling’s first exhibition, which was held at Seoul’s Royal Bowling Center.Team USA bowlers, who usually fare well in international events, failed to make the grade in Seoul. Mark Lewis took the last spot in the top half of the men’s 12-bowler round robin, while Debbie McMullen finished one spot below, in seventh place of 12 spot’s in the women’s division.
Amid rumors of riots, all was peaceful in the Land of Morning Calm, but if you listened closely, you could hear the sound of tenpins falling. It was an historic moment for the bowling world. It is hoped that there are more such chapters to come. After witnessing the excitement and the special ceremonies attached to bowling’s first Olympic appearance, the bowling family has seemingly pulled closer than ever in making sure that there will be a next time.

Olympic Bowling Exhibition
(September 18, 1988, Seoul, South Korea)
(Round robin with bonus points) Men: 1. Jack Loke Chin, Japan 2435; 2. Kwon Jong Yul, South Korea 2333; 3. Tapani Peltola, Finland 2274; 4. Philippe Dubois, France 2261; 5. Kanesumi Mori, Japan 2248; 6. Mark Lewis, United States 2237; 7. Luis Valezx, Puerto Rico 2209; 8. T.C. cheng, Chinese Taipei 2165; 9. Walter Costsa, Brazil 2154; 10. Wolfgang Strupf, West Germany 2101; 11. Christer Danielsson, Sweden 2084; 12. Marcos Brosens, Argentina 2032.

Stepladder Results: Yul def. Peltola, 177-165; Yul def. Chin, 236-194 and in the championship match, Yul def. Chin, 254-223.

Women: 1. Arianne Cerdena, Philippines 2354; 2. Annikki Maattola, Finland 2315; 3. Atsuko Asai, Japan 2281; 4. Jane Amlinger, Canada 2271; 5. Mette Hermansen, Norway 2258; 6. Gabriela Bigai, Venezuela 2158; 7. Debbie McMullen, United States 2137; 8. Kimberley Coote, England 2125; 9. Annemiek (Dagelet) van den Boogaart, Netherlands 2116; 10. Edda Piccini, Mexico 2105; 11. Carol Gianotti, Australia 2103; 12. Kyung-Mi Song, South Korea 1871.

Stepladder Results: Asai def. Maattola, 209-187; Asai def. Cerdena, 198-180; and in the championship match Cerdena def. Asai, 249-211.