PRESS RELEASE
PR-002-2024
(25 January 2024, Singapore) – Zach Ramin Sales, the youngest Filipino to win the Singapore International Open, the country’s most prestigious bowling competition, visited the Philippine Embassy in Singapore on 24 January 2024 and paid a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador to Singapore, His Excellency Medardo G. Macaraig. He was joined by his parents, Rudi and Grace, both Filipino migrants in Singapore.
Zach’s visit to the Embassy came on the heels of his most successful year since he started joining bowling competitions at the age of 10. In June 2023, Zach made history as the youngest winner of the Singapore International Open at 17 years old, as well as the first Filipino male bowler to do so in the tournament’s almost 60-year existence. Zach joins fellow Filipino athletes Cecile Yap, Liza del Rosario and Olivia “Bong” Coo, now a commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission, to accomplish such a feat.
His victory was succeeded by another win at the 21st Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championship held in Thailand in July, this time as part of the Philippine team competing for the Boys Team Gold and besting bowling powerhouse countries such as Korea, Singapore and Malaysia.
For the remainder of 2023, Zach represented the Philippines in several international bowling tournaments, including the IBF World Bowling Championships in Kuwait; the Thailand International Open 2023; Storm U22 Fukuoka Open 2023 in Japan; and Storm U22 All Stars 2023 in Malaysia.
In welcoming the Sales family, Ambassador Macaraig expressed his confidence that Zach will continue to be instrumental in showcasing the Filipino prowess in bowling, both in Singapore and overseas. He likewise thanked Zach and his parents for their commitment to support the Embassy in its efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between Singapore and the Philippines through sportsmanship. END.
