Three Jharkhand players in India squad for historic lawn bowls series against New Zealand

Kolkata: Three players from Jharkhand will be part of India’s four-member lawn bowls squad for a historic three-Test series against New Zealand in Nov, part of the centenary celebrations of sporting ties between the two countries.Lawn bowls is one of the only four sports, alongside cricket, hockey and football, selected for the centenary programme.2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallists Dinesh Kumar and Sunil Bahadur and rising player Reshma Kumari, all from Jharkhand, have been selected alongside Arjuna Awardee and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Pinki Singh for the series, scheduled from Nov 16-18 in Auckland.“This is a very important event for us because only four sports are taking part in the centenary celebrations. On the days we are playing, no other sport will be taking place, which means we will receive exclusive coverage,” Bowling Federation of India president Ravi Bengani told TOI in an exclusive interview on Thursday.India will play three Test matches over three days, with each Test comprising five matches — men’s pairs, women’s pairs, mixed fours, mixed pairs 1 and mixed pairs 2.The New Zealand series is part of a broader international exposure programme the federation has put in place as it begins preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad.A 12-member Indian contingent will travel to Malaysia later this month for a World Bowls-sanctioned tournament, while another group will compete in an invitational event in Hong Kong, where Indian players won bronze medals last year.The federation’s confidence has also received a boost from Putul Sonowal’s recent podium finish at the Champion of Champions event, a first for an Indian player at the prestigious competition.“We have decided to participate in as many World Bowls-sanctioned events as possible. International exposure is crucial if we want to bridge the gap with the leading nations,” Bengani said.The federation is also planning to strengthen its support structure through its partnership with Bowls New Zealand. Bengani revealed that India currently does not have a dedicated national coach, making the proposed knowledge-sharing programme particularly significant.“We have signed an agreement with Bowls New Zealand and now we will have more exchange programmes. We will bring their coaches and technical officials to India and provide our players with greater exposure and expertise,” Bengani said.The plans have gained momentum following the federation’s recognition by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports earlier this year, a move expected to improve funding and access to high-performance support.As far as the 2030 Commonwealth Games are concerned, the federation has set ambitious targets. “I’m committing to at least four gold medals for India in 2030. Personally, I feel we can win even more if we continue on the current path,” Bengani said.With a packed international calendar, plans to bring in New Zealand coaches and technical experts, and Ahmedabad 2030 on the horizon, the federation believes Indian lawn bowls is entering its most ambitious phase yet.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.