BANGALORE: Just two days before 11-11-11, Delhi’s Vikesh Veer Jain broke a 11-year-old record and made tenpin bowling history in the 23rd national tenpin bowling c’ships. He set the Star City lanes on fire with a crackling display to record a tally of 1419 points with five games of 200-plus scores, the highest-ever in the sport at the national level in a game of six blocks. It was SA Hameed of Delhi who had held the all-India record with 1418 pin falls set 11 years ago in the mixed team event of the 1st Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championship.
Vikesh also broke the national c’ships record set only a day before by Tamil Nadu’s Shabbir Dhankot. The defending champion had logged 1365 pin falls. But Vikesh breezed past that record. Vikesh dumped all the records on his way to glory. More importantly, he had been out of the sport for the last eight long years. Excerpts from an interview...
On bettering Hameed
Well, I never even knew about it. So it was really exciting to have achieved that feat. I was told it was a 11-year-old record. But looking at the way youngsters are taking to the sport, my record might not last that long.
On his vanishing act from the sport
Yeah, I was out of action for almost eight years. It was a sort of forced temporary retirement for me. It so happened that bowling centres in Delhi closed down and there was no place to play or practise. I was part of the national team from 1997 to almost 2003.
On the present
scenario in Delhi
Now, a couple of bowling centres have come up in Delhi and there are enough opportunities to play and hone your skills. It is an expensive sport as you pay about `100 and more per hour of play. But I love the sport and don’t mind doing it so as long as I have the chance.
On his bowling style
I am a hook bowler.
On his improved game
We had a ten-day coaching camp in Delhi before the Nationals. A coach from Singapore named John was roped in. He taught us a lot in that brief period and has transformed our game. Not only me, most Delhi bowlers have done well and it is because of John. We also had an interaction with national team coach Allan Chia of Malaysia and that also helped me a lot.
On changes in tenpin bowling
Yes, the game has changed a lot. The equipment is good, the ball is different and you can grip it better. There are long oil and short oil conditions and a machine is used to oil the lanes making the surface very even all along. It is completely different to what it was ten years back. More people are taking to it as a competitive sport.
On his next move
Well, my aim is to do well and represent my country. I believe in giving my hundred per cent when I am playing. I will give it my best shot and see how it goes.
