The first woman to head the Bowling Federation of India, Sunaina Kumari, gave an exclusive interview to Anupma Khanna during a short retreat to her hometown.
Doon bred Sunaina Kumari is the scion of a royal lineage with an ancestry of high standing in sports. The vivacious woman is doing her second term as president of the Bowling Federation of India and as vice-president of Asian lawn Bowls Federation. Daughter of Randhir Singh and grand heir of Raja Bhalindra Singh of the Patiala family, she is the third generation torch bearer of active involvement in the Indian Olympic Association. She passed from Welham Girls School in 1996, moving on to pursue Sociology (Hons) from Delhi University.
It was in fact a desire to carry forward the family baton that made her quit her job in the United Nations and commit to establishing lawn bowling as a competitive sport in India. Beginning from a situation where the game was virtually non-existent in the country, under her leadership the Federation has succeeded in launching the game in 25 States of the country and building a strong team that is taking the world by surprise. There were the initial challenges, but public response has been great as India has begun to take sports seriously she feels. Excerpts from the interview:
lawn Bowling is an unnoticed sport in India. How did you take up this gameIJ
We have a bowling pitch in our farmhouse in Delhi, and every year in the month of March, we would host a party inviting close friends and family for a game of lawn bowling. It was an informal social affair where uncles, aunts, youngsters and children all competed together. It was a day-long recreational activity accompanied by food, drinks and merry-making. That was my initiation to the sport. Right from my school days at Welham's, I was passionate about basketball and athletics. Until I tried it, watching elders in my family play lawn bowling, I used to think it lacked the adrenalin of quick-movement games I had always played. But clearly, lawn bowling is like golf- an addictive sport that makes your mind run like horses!
How did you go about establishing lawn bowling in India virtually from scratchIJ
When I became the president of the national federation in 2005, there was only one active lawn bowling hub in India -- the British era Royal Club of Kolkata. With help from its then president, I began efforts to popularize the sport across the country. Soon after I took charge, lawn bowling was included in the Commonwealth Games and that was a real turning point. Back then, lawn bowling was unheard of in India. We had to start from scratch; organise camps, identify prospective players and the most difficult- motivate children to take up this new sport. We also participated in and hosted smaller level international events to prepare our completely raw team for the big match -Commonwealth Games. And to even our own surprise, India performed brilliantly well for a newcomer at the championship, missing a medal in the triples category by only about a point! At the world level, we are yet to make a mark, but we are excelling in Asia, where Malaysia is our closest competitor.
As president of the Bowling Federation of India and vice-president, Asian lawn Bowl Federation, what is your focus and visionIJ
The world over, lawn bowling has been more of an elderly people's game. During the 2006 Commonwealth in Melbourne, the international body advised me to popularize the sport; so that formed my focus. We started visiting schools of all types in places big and small, from elite public institutions to tin-roof schools in the most tribal areas. And it paid off. Still young in experience, the Indian lawn bowls team is making it big at international events. Taking a lead from India, many countries like Australia and New Zealand are roping in young players in their teams. lawn bowling is the only sport with no age categorization at all. In the Melbourne championship, we had school-going Tanya from Assam with a few months of training competing against sexagenarian veterans!
The first national lawn bowl competition was held in the National Games in Guwahati. Assam and Jharkhand are among the most active States for lawn bowling with the latter having around 1,800 regular players. Being the venue for the next National Games, Kerala is building a well-equipped bowling venue too. Uttarakhand will have a State association by 2014. In Dehradun, schools have shown great interest. Though we are awaiting formal documentation, it is informed that Delhi University has consented to include lawn Bowling as a recognized game to claim sports quota. That will be a big shot in the arm. In Jharkhand, we have included poor illiterate youth from tribal communities and enrolled them in our camps, even a few women who were mired in brothels. My vision is to establish lawn bowling at all levels, to actually take lawn bowling to every segment of the society.
Are Indians overly fixated on cricketIJ
Cricket is an obsession in India and that must change. However, public mindset towards sports is witnessing a positive change. I am happy to observe that India has begun to take sport seriously. It is also more economically viable for players now.
Your idea of happiness, interests, strength.
We often find the greatest happiness in the smallest of things. Yoga and reading; Spirituality is strength in both my personal life as much as in my sport performance.
Your connection with Doon.
Dehradun is an enchantment for me. A heaven filled with beautiful memories, exhilarating weather and beautiful people. I have had the best years of my life here. I have unforgettable memories in this house. The girls were in Welham's and the boys of the family were in Doon School. So we had this large group who would all gather. The music, animated conversations, the jesting and the movies we watched together, it was an incredible!