Guntur, ANDHRA PRADESH / NEW DELHI :
Vijayawada :
There is no professional ten-pin bowling centre in the country and the need of the hour is promote the sport in a more organised manner, according to Shaikh Abdul Hameed, country’s leading bowling player, who bagged Asian and Commonwealth Games medals, representing India.
Speaking to media persons while announcing a tournament to be conduced at PVR Mall on M.G. Road here on Thursday, the 43-year-old veteran admitted that bowling alleys were confined mostly to the malls in cities and it was time they spread their wing. “Ten-pin game is a costly affair. Just to lay one lane it will cost Rs. 32 lakh. Only in Chandigarh we have a 16-lane alley while a standard alley as per the rules of the World Tenpin Association should have 24,” he added.
He said efforts were made to erase the entertainment tag attached the game and make it more competitive and systematic.
“Though the game has it origins in the country from the 60s it has turned professional only in early 2000,” says the double gold medallist at the Manchester Commonwealth Games, who won the title “Bowling Ekalvya” for learning the game all by himself.
Born in Guntur, Hameed, a south paw, shifted base to Delhi and was hooked to ten-pin bowling in his twenties.
“For the past 16 years I am playing bowling with passion and took part in several international tournaments in 120 countries. I am the only Indian who won the Thailand tour tiles of Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) in 2014,” he added.
A fighter to the core
Mr. Hameed is well-known for his legal fight against Government of India protesting the manner in which the Arjuna awards were shortlisted. “After a long fight I won the case in the courts and the points system was introduced. I still remember many players who received Arjuna awards thanking me for my fight.”
Technique
He said to be a successful bowler more than the strength and fitness it was technique that was needed to flatten the ten pins played in a cage.
“I want the Andhra Pradesh government to establish a quality bowling complex in the Amravati region and I wish to express make a request to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who is well known for promoting sports and games.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / Vijayawada – April 08th, 2016