Pacific bowlers to take on the world’s best

Lawn bowlers from Niue, Fiji, Tonga, and the Cook Islands will carry the region’s hopes when they participate in the Oceania Challenge and World Bowls tournaments in New Zealand this month.

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will host both major international lawn bowls championships with the Oceania Challenge from 20-24 November and the World Bowls Champion of Champions from 25-30 November.

A total of 30 men and 26 women from 31 nations will be vying for the men’s and women's singles titles in the World Bowls event at the Browns Bay Bowling Club.

Niue lawn bowls team in Gold Coast, Australia for the World Bowls Championships 2023. Keith Papani is pictured in the back row, second from the right.Photo/Bill Vakaafi Motufoou/Facebook

Niue’s Keith Papani, Cook Islands’ Royden Stewart Aperau, Fiji’s Munesh Kumar, and Tonga’s Nicky Third are top contenders from the Pacific.

In the women’s competition, Niue’s Joy Peyroux, Cook Islands’ Teokotai Rahui Jim, and Tonga’s Milika Nathan will spearhead the Pacific campaign.

Papani says he’s looking forward to playing in the Oceania Competition and World Bowls Champ of Champs.

He says he is also looking forward to gaining the experience of playing against some of the top players in oceania and the world.

“We can only do our best, given that they have better greens, which are faster,” Papani told PMN News.

“Our greenkeepers have done their best in preparing the green for our training, and I'm very happy with the training and coaching that our coach, Des Hipa, has provided for our team.

“We indeed will give it our very best for our little Big Rock Niue.

“Always very proud to represent our country on the world stage,” Papani says.

Cook Islands team at the 2023 World Bowls Championships, named the top-ranked Pacific island nation. Photo/World Bowls

World Bowls Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Neil Dalrymple said while a world title was up for grabs, world ranking points could be gained as the competition’s a World Bowls Series (WBS) platinum event so maximum ranking points can be achieved.

“As we near the end of the calendar year, the WBS is gaining momentum and interest from players all over the world and this event could very much shape who will end up as our World No.1 female and male players at years end,” Dalrymple said in a statement.”

This is the sixth time New Zealand is hosting the world bowls tournament.

For more details, click here https://www.worldbowls.com/competitors-announced-for-world-bowls-champion-of-champions-2024/