Brett O’Riley
Auckland, March 22, 2025
What an exciting milestone day for World Bowls, Bowls New Zealand, the Bowling Federation of India, and the future of our Sport!
In Mumbai, we were on stage with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister of Sport Mark Mitchell, where we presented our signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a Three-Way Cooperation. We were urged on by a packed crowd of the Prime Minister’s political, business, community and sports leaders delegation, and their Indian counterparts.
The MOU will foster Three-Way Cooperation, consistent with our World Bowls growth strategy in developing coaching, technical officials, new international competition, World Bowls Series events, bowls and equipment, and the development of our sport.
Building presence in India
Bowls will develop in new ways in India, building on its presence in 26 states.
We will take our sport to the people via short mat bowls, including working with leading corporates, potentially exposing bowls to thousands of new participants.
Making bowls accessible is very important and there is strong interest in bowls as a sport to keep people of all ages fit and learning teamwork skills.
A Three-Way Cooperation: Bowls New Zealand President Brett O’Riley, Bowling Federation of India President Ravi Bengani and Asia Bowls Deputy President Sunaina Kumari with New Zealand Cricketer Ross Taylor in Mumbai on March 21, 2025 (Pool Photo).
India is bidding for future Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games and expanding their bowls community at a rapid pace. Great to also hear from cricket greats and leading commentators at the Cricket Lunch, and meet some leading broadcasters interested in bowls.
Thanks to Bowls New Zealand Chair Mark O’Connor and Chief Executive Mark Cameron (who were represented at the event by Peter Miskimmin from Sport New Zealand), Bowling Federation of India President Ravi Bengani and Asia Bowls Deputy President Sunaina Kumari and our Chief Executive Neil Dalrymple for their work to make this happen, which I have been delighted to coordinate.
This is sports diplomacy and development in action and I am delighted with the potential for this to grow our game.
Thanks also to my old colleague Graham Rouse at NZTE and his team, and New Zealand High Commissioner to India Patrick Rata and his predecessor David Pine for supporting the cooperation opportunities for our sport.
Rounded off nicely tonight with the presentation of Bill Fowlie’s great book ‘Wrong Bias’ to Mr Rata, which documents Bill’s leadership alongside Kerry Clark in the development of the bowls infrastructure and competition at the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games.
I am still smiling at the momentum and the connections made. The potential is huge.
