INCHEON — It is no secret that of the six medals available in women’s bowling at the 2014 Asian Games, the one that Singapore’s keglers are eyeing is the team gold.

And while the event is called the women’s Team of Five, there is every chance that all six members will be called on to play during the two blocks of three games. Coming away with a medal — especially gold — would, in their eyes epitomise the spirit of the team, working towards a common goal of winning for the nation.

Not that they haven’t won medals at the Asian Games before: In Guangzhou four years ago, the women contributed four of the five medals bowling delivered, including gold for Shayna Ng, Cherie Tan and Geraldine Ng in the women’s trios, silver for Shayna and Cherie in the singles and masters respectively, and a bronze for New Hui Fen in the singles.

This time, the team comprises captain Jazreel Tan, sisters Cherie and Daphne Tan, 2012 Qubica/AMF World Cup winner Ng, 2013 Singapore national champion New Hui Fen and Joey Yeo, the baby of the team who turns 17 in December.

Apart from the inclusion of Joey, the core of the Singapore women’s team — sisters Cherie and Daphne, Jazreel, Ng and New — has remained unchanged since 2011 and they have wasted no time in welcoming the teenager into the fold, preaching the ethos of “team above self”.

Said Ng, 24: “Ever since 2011, there’s always the five of us in every Singapore team at a major outing, with a different sixth person. Technically, we will have six chances of winning in the singles. But the team medal would mean the most. It’s the most prestigious one.”

Added Asian Games debutant Daphne, 23: “It also means everyone goes home with a medal, and it also shows that the team is strong and not just one bowler winning the singles and the rest are nowhere.”

For New, 22, her second Asiad comes with a different focus. “Four years ago, I was going in as an individual, being the newcomer in the team,” she said. “But now that we’ve been through so many competitions together, it’s a different feeling, and I want for the team to win.”

Skipper Jazreel, 25, may be a three-time United States Collegiate Bowler of the Year, where she was the standout performer of an outstanding Wichita State University side, but she has yet to get on the podium at the Asiad. Even then, her personal ambitions come second to the team’s.

“I really miss being a member of the Shockers,” she said. “Competing in the college circuit, the team always comes first. As for the Singapore national side, there has been a lot of improvement in communications and we’ve gotten closer together in the last two years.”

Ng added: “Ultimately our common goal is to do Singapore proud.”

Cherie, the only survivor from the team that won bronze at the 2006 Doha Games, will be competing in her third Asiad. And the 26-year-old knows only too well the challenges that lie ahead at the Angyang Hogye Gymnasium where the bowling competition starts on Saturday.

“Our coaches have not spoken of medal targets, so all we have to do is focus on the process and accept whatever results that come,” she said. “The competition is over 10 days and if a medal doesn’t happen at the first event, we will just go out and try again. In Incheon, whoever matches up to the lane conditions the fastest will win the gold medal. It’s about understanding your equipment and surfaces and being able to make those adjustments, something that we’re honing through all the training, and being able to tell each other how to adjust.”

The team have spent two months training under national coach Remy Ong, himself a triple gold medallist at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan and former double world champion who has helped them prepare for the knowns and anticipate the unknowns.

To beat the much-vaunted South Koreans, who dominated the bowling competition at the last Asian Games in Guangzhou, on their home turf, preparations have gone beyond brushing up technical proficiency.

“Training for the past two Asian Games wasn’t so physically taxing. We didn’t really train two sessions a day and didn’t have gym programmes,” said Cherie. “I’d say this time it’s a higher level of training and we covered a lot of aspects of the unknown.”

Added Shayna: “The coaches also tried ways and means to distract us, like playing different national anthems when we bowl to see how we cope with distractions. It’s been fun training ... it’s been mentally draining but it’s a good kind of tired. We’re constantly being challenged and it is very productive.”

There is little doubt the Majulah Singapura is the only national anthem this team wants to hear in Incheon, not just for themselves, but also their young male counterparts hoping to silence a critic or two.

Said Joey: “The coaches and support staff have put in a lot of effort to help prepare us for the Games, so we’re out to perform our best.”

Quiz:

Q: Who’s the biggest K-Pop fan amongst you?

Cherie: Joey! Daphne: Jazreel! (It’s a tie.)

Q: If you were a K-Pop group, what would you call yourselves?

Shayna: 20-Seconds. They’ve got 2PM and 2AM, we’d fit right in. (Joey wanted The Rainbow Girls but was out-voted)

Q: And what would be your chant?

A: Wah lau eh… or something Singaporean.

Q: What’s your favourite Korean drama?

Appa Odiga (Dad, where are you going?)

Q: Who would you all like to meet in Korea?

2NE1, Kim Soo-Hyun or Jun Ji-Hyun

Q: Among you, who has been the most convincing during this shoot, apart from Joey and Jazreel?

Cherie: That’s me of course, I wore a wig! (Wins the award for most out of her comfort zone)

Q: Hanguk and Choson are two names for Korea, which is North and which is South?

All: Hanguk is South Korea, and Choson is North Korea.

Q: How many members are there in Super Junior?

All: A lot, it changes. Cherie: It’s either nine, 11 or 13. (Good answer, the group started with 12 and at its peak had 13 members.)