Bowling sensation Sabeena Athica’s fascinating journey Premium
The Hindu
Sabeena Athica, 13-time National women's tenpin bowling champion, started bowling in 1999, encouraged by her daughter. She has since been self-taught, competing with men without handicap. At 55, she still strives for the perfect game of 300 points. #Bowling #Recreation #FamilyTime #Competition #Achievement
Bowling is synonymous with recreation. Even the 13-time National women’s tenpin bowling champion Sabeena Athica’s initial visits to Chennai’s first-ever bowling alley (Snow Bowling) were for some quality family time and entertainment.
“It was in 1999, 1998 maybe. That’s when I started bowling.”
Sabeena was 30 and a mother of two children then. Her daughter has encouraged her to overcome her inhibition and pick up the ball.
“There, only men used to play. Yet, my daughter was playing. We were just sitting and watching. Then, my daughter told me, ‘Mumma why don’t you also play?’ I said, ‘Only men are playing, it’ll be so odd if I play.’ She said, ‘So what?! You can play!’ So, that is how I started!” says the 55-year-old over phone.
According to her, two more centres have opened up since then — Bowling Point and DU (Down Under) Bowl.
“All three places would have local tournaments every two months.”
She made winning a habit, which emboldened her to get into the National tenpin bowling championships in Mumbai in 2000 when she became aware of the annual event.
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