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In a bid to add another notch to his rising bowling career, Yousif Falah will be flying out to Thailand in a few months’ time to compete against the best professionals from across the globe.
The 29-year-old will be participating in the Professional Bowling Association (PBA)-World Bowling Tour (WBAT) in Bangkok in August. It is the 12th Stop of the PBA-WBT 2014 Calendar and the fourth time to be hosted in Thailand.
The bowling ace aims to strike out the competition for a high WBT ranking as well as a cash prize of 1,000,000 baht (BD12,164).
According to the Bahrain Bowling Association, it’s not about how many tournaments you play, whether international or local, it’s the level you reach which makes the difference. Those that make it to the top 12 or top six, for example, will be rewarded with higher points, which will elevate a bowler’s position in the rankings.
Yousif is currently ranked 30th in the 2014 World Bowling Tour with 124 points and is in eighth place in the Asian Bowling Federation (formerly known as FIQ-WTBA Asian Zone).
The father-of-two, a senior manpower planning analyst at Bapco, from Saar, said: “My aim is to win the World Bowling Tour title as the closest I had ever gotten was third place.
“Aside from taking part in local tournaments, I have been preparing for the tour by practicing at least three-to-four-times a week. You will either find me bowling in Al Dana Mall or at the Awali Bowling Club.
“This is a big championship to be a part of and I am excited about it. I’m good friends with many of the competitors so it will be nice to catch up. We all have a lot in common, the only difference, I feel, is that their game is a little more consistent because they bowl for a living, whereas I have a full-time job and have to balance both.
“I follow most tournaments that are held in Asia and I currently bowl with East Riffa Club who won the league last year and have been unbeaten since.
“But, due to work, I bowl in tournaments that I can co-ordinate around my holiday. My busiest times of the year are February through April as well as November and December.”
Despite his work, Yousif has no intention of splitting from the sport because bowling is in his blood.
He started bowling with his father Mohammed, who works in the Royal Charity Organisation, at the age of five and even joined the Junior League in Awali.
His wife, Yasmine Al Awadhi, 26, is not just a mother to his beautiful two-year-old daughter Maya and three-month-old son Mohammed. She is also a star bowler who has clinched the title of Arab champion twice.
Yousif said: “I love bowling. It’s a big part of my family life. It has also taken me all over the world participating and meeting so many people and through it I have made many friends.
“Bowling in Bahrain is great too. I believe that more of it should be broadcast on TV though. The Bahrain bowling team achieves so much, but because it is not as popular as other sports it does not get the recognition it deserves.”
Over the years, Yousif has built quite a reputation for himself ending the 2012/2013 season as Asia’s number one-ranked bowler. He has also bowled a perfect game (a score of 300) 16 times.
He has 21 gold medals combined in the GCC and Arab Championships. He is a two-time silver medallist and two-time bronze medallist in Asia. Yousif also holds two international titles and three second-place finishes.
Yousif said: “Becoming Asia’s number one was my proudest moment. It is done by consistently placing in a high position and gaining ranking points in each event I participated in. I did not bowl as many events in that year, but the events I did participate in, I bowled exceptionally well.”
While Yousif has not participated in many tournaments this year either, he still managed to squeeze into the Asian Bowling Tour Tournament of Champions where he finished third. He also competed in the Bahrain and Kuwait International Opens in March.
For those interested in a career in bowling, Yousif advises regular practice and being aware of ones surroundings.
