Bengaluru: From a recreational sport to an Asian Games discipline, tenpin bowling has come a long way . As in other sports, tenpin also has many achievers and credible performers at the international level.
With the popularity of the sport on the rise, the Tenpin Bowling Federation (India) will conduct the 25th National Tenpin Bowling championship in Bengaluru that ends on December 15.
In the landmark year, the Federation has planned the event in a big way, and the weeklong tournament will be held at BluO, Orion Mall. Keeping with the occasion, the winner's trophy has been commissioned from Thailand.
The championship will have 92 participants in the men’s section and 22 in the women’s section with participants from 12 states Delhi boy Dhruv Sarda and Sabeena Athica from Tamil Nadu, who are the defending champions, lead the line of stellar competitors.
Karnataka’s hopes will rest on two-time champion Vijay Punjabi and Commonwealth bronze medalist Akaash Ashok Kumar among the men.
The women’s charge will be led by Judy Alban and Pooja Hegde in the absence of seasoned campaigner and former champion Prathima Hegde, who pulled out of the event due to injury. The championship will be played in both long and short oil patterns.
Speaking on the eve of the event, Karti Chidambaram, president, TBFI, revealed future plans. “Our goal is the Asian Games in 2014,” he said while stating that the government should do its part to help the sport grow.
“We have always had foreign coaches. During the 2012 Asian Games we had government support but after that it stopped. They must support continuously,” he said, adding a medal at the continental event in bowling was within touching distance.
Our goal is the Asian Games in 2014. We have always had foreign coaches. During the 2012 Asian Games we had government support but after that it stopped. They must support continuously.
