Kishan's story — from giving up cricket to finding success in bowling
R. Kishan gave up his cricket dreams to carve out a name for himself in a less popular sport, bowling.
His decision has paid dividends, as Kishan — one of the nation's top bowlers — won the first South Zone Tenpin bowling tournament in Bangalore on Thursday.
''Everyone plays cricket. I wanted to try something new,' Bengaluru lad Kishan told The Hindu after his title win.
What started as a way to pass time after missing tuition classes soon turned into a serious passion, ultimately leading him to represent India in the prestigious Asian Games and 2025 IBF World Cup.
His start in bowling came when Kishan casually entered a local tournament at the age of 16. Much to his surprise, he finished in the top six. Impressed by his raw skills, state-level bowlers encouraged him to participate in State-level tournaments.
The turning point came when Australian coach Andrew Crowley noticed his potential. Under Crowley's mentorship, Kishan adopted the two-handed O'Campo technique, resembling the style of three-time PBA World Championship winner, Jason Belmonte.
The shift in technique helped Kishan secure many State and National titles. He went to represent India at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, and won podium finishes in international tournaments in Hong Kong and the Philippines.
He also finished a creditable ninth at the Bowling World Cup. Being a student at the time, Kishan had to make a difficult choice between academics and his passion. 'I didn't get permission to attend any more bowling tournaments after 2019, so I just quit my university,' the 25-year-old said.
The lack of support from educational institutions is still is a sour memory for Kishan, but he believes that things are changing now.
Today, Kishan balances his career in construction with his love for bowling. 'Before, I only used to bowl. Now I have to work. I am trying to pursue full-time bowling for sure. But before that, I have to settle my career.
'If I really need to make it big in the bowling field, I have to travel a lot and play only international contests to make enough money. I get calls from youngsters asking if I can teach them. That keeps the fire alive,' Kishan said.
Kishan strongly believes that more awareness and tournaments, especially for women, can take the sport further in India. 'In this tournament, we had 85 men and just nine women. That needs to change.
'I hope to see more amateur events and better representation in India. Half of the people of this nation do not even know that something like bowling exists. Small regional tournaments are necessary to create awareness,' he said.
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