Tenpin is right up this man’s alley

PIETERMARITZBURG bowler Jiveshkar Sewchuran is ready to strike in an international tenpin bowling championship.

Sewchuran, 26, of Northdale, is flying the South African flag at the Africa Zone Championship in Egypt.

The championship, which starts today, will see South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia and Mauritius battle it out in the bowling alley.

Tenpin bowling is a type of bowling in which a bowler rolls a bowling ball down a wood or synthetic lane toward 10 pins positioned evenly in four rows in an equilateral triangle at the far end of the lane. The objective is to knock down all 10 pins.

Sewchuran, who is ranked number one bowler in SA, is part of a six-man team.

He said he was looking forward to the tournament, but a bit stressed and nervous.

“I am recovering from a bicep tendon injury, which has me stressed a lot. Our aim is to beat Egypt, who are the strongest contenders, to get to the world championship game.

“International bowling tournaments are more in-depth. There are more advanced bowlers who are more professional and have more backing and coaches. The sport is more recognised overseas. It is therefore my aim to build the sport in South Africa,” he said.

He said what he loves about the sport was the mental game, pressure and knowing you have to get a certain score to beat your opponent.

“The feeling of winning is what made me thrive in the sport. It’s not about being number one. It is the way I carry myself. I play the sport for the

love of it and I enjoy it. Being number one does not mean I win all the tournaments, but I am most consistent,” he said.

Sewchuran said his main aim is to recruit more junior players to grow the sport.

“I want to get more people of colour involved in the sport. The sport is massive overseas,” he said.

He was introduced to the game at the age of 11 by a family friend who had invited his family for a social evening.

Seeing his talent he was invited to join a junior league and thereafter progressed from there.

At the age of 19 he got his senior South African colours.

“I learnt to play the game by watching Youtube videos and by practising by playing about 25 to 30 games a day after school,” he said.

Sewchuran has participated internationally previously in countries like Tokyo, Hong Kong, Qatar, Vienna, Saudi Arabia and the US.

In July Sewchuran will be heading to the US for a world game.

Sewchuran and his family two years ago opened a bowling centre, called Planet X Bowls in Mkondeni in Pietermaritzburg, where they host national tournaments.