Australia announces 2022 World Games squad
By kristiemiddleton
Tenpin Bowling Australia (TBA) is excited to announce the team set to don the green and gold for the 2022 World Games from 7-17 July in Birmingham, Alabama, United States.
The World Games is an international multi-sport event comprising sports and sporting disciplines that are not contested in the Olympic Games.
Australia, which is one of 21 nations competing in tenpin bowling at the event, will be represented strongly by a four-player team including Sam Cooley, Callum Borck, Bek Martin and Rebekah Commane.
Cooley, the 2018 Men’s World Cup Champion, will be looking to add to his trophy cabinet as he takes to the world stage for the first time since the 2019 World Cup where he finished in the top four.
He will be partnered by West Australian young gun Callum Borck in the men’s doubles.
Bek Martin will be joined by Rebekah Commane, who has been showing great form after taking out the 2022 Queensland Ladies Classic a fortnight ago.
Australian Team Coach Robert Alexander said that the inclusion of experienced international athletes, especially the likes of Cooley, would see an excellent chance for medals from this team.
“The team will benefit from their recent successes ahead of the upcoming World Games,” Alexander said. “We’ve been working with the athletes’ personal coaches to review and evaluate training in the lead up to the World Games opportunity.”
With the team spread across three Australian States – Borck from Western Australia and Cooley based in New South Wales – the upcoming Melbourne Tenpin Cup on 11-12 June will offer the perfect opportunity for the group to come together to train and conduct their pre-event activities.
It is the first time in 25 years that Australia has qualified for the World Games.
The last time Australia participated in the global event was at the World Games 1997 in Lahti, Finland, when Cara Honeychurch and Andrew Frawley won silver in the mixed pair event.
The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Centre will play hosts for bowling during the World Games with singles and doubles across the men’s and women’s events.
