Aussies claim bronze at Tenpin Bowling World Championships
By kristiemiddleton
The Australian Tenpin Bowling team has claimed a bronze medal at the Men’s Team event during the International Bowling Federation (IBF) Under 21 World Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden.
Running into the highly fancied Team USA in the semi-finals of the team event, Australia would claim bronze after USA defeated the Aussies in straight sets (182-215 and 159-222).
Tenpin Bowling showcased the sport’s rising stars with finals of the four singles, doubles, teams, and mixed team events in a thrilling last of the nine-day World Championships.
The bronze-winning team from down under comprising of future household names for the sport from around the country, including two-hand bowlers Bernie Grueso Jnr (Victoria) and Cameron Stein (Queensland), paired with the traditional one-handed bowlers Jamie Robinson (Queensland) and Nixon Chan (New South Wales).
At the sport’s first international event since 2019, Australia fielded four men and four women at the Championships. Australia qualified for the Men’s Team semi-final and went close to making an appearance in several other events.
Qualifying the 13th highest of 33 competing nations in the first stage of ten games, the Australian men progressed to the match play stage, which saw the top 16 teams battle it out in two groups of eight teams.
The two groups completed seven head-to-head games against other countries, intending to finish in the top two of the group to advance to the semi-finals. The finals involved the top four teams who qualified through two previous event stages.
Australia finished in second place in Group A and booked their semi-final date with the highly fancied United States of America, who went undefeated in Group B.
The semi-finals would see teams compete in a best of three, Baker format. The Baker format makes every player who is part of the team contribute frame after frame within a game, instead of contributing their own full games to the totals. The format emphasises team effort rather than individual scores.
Putting up an almighty fight against Team USA, the Australians would eventually fall to the powerhouse team 2-0 games and claim bronze in the prestigious event.
Australia continues to punch above its weight in the sporting world of Tenpin Bowling. Boasting champions at all levels and genders, the proud and inclusive sport continues to make waves in the sporting industry.
Exciting times on the horizon await the sport with a team of four heading to the upcoming World Games in Birmingham, USA before hosting both the IBF World Cup and IBF Para Bowling World Cup in November 2022 on home soil.
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Photo credit – Nathan Stein
Top Feature Image L-R: Jamie Robinson, Bernie Grueso Jnr, Cameron Stein and Nixon Chan
