Tenpin bowling: US coach sees potential in Pakistan players

Allan Smith conducts training session in Karachi.

KARACHI: Allan Smith, a coach from the US has lent a helping hand to the Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation (PTBF) to promote the sport at the grass-root level. He believed that sports persons’ drive to improve on their performance would take the country a long way in international events.

Smith is a US Bowling Congress (USBC) certified coach working in Islamabad, and according to PTBF Secretary Ijazur Rehman, the American has been associated with the federation for five months now.



The coach conducted a seminar and a training session in Karachi in an attempt to promote the sport at a basic level. The session gathered 75 participants, including 20 women.

He was also accompanied by national ranking players Khawaja Ahmed Mustaqeem, Shabbir Lashkarwala and Aleem Agha at the event.

“My experience in Karachi has been interesting,” Smith told The Express Tribune. “I’ve never seen so many people lined-up to learn about bowling. I’ve been working in Islamabad as well but people in Karachi have shown more eagerness.”

The American, who has been an international professional player himself and travelled to 16 different countries for the sport, further stated that it was the drive of the Pakistani people that would help them excel in bowling.

“I’ve been to many places and seen many people bowling, but they usually forget why they started it in the first place. Bowling is about enjoying the sport and it’s that drive that takes a player ahead. I’ve seen that drive in the people here and many have been interacting with me through Facebook, wanting to learn more.”

Smith added that after his return back home, he would ask the USBC to assign him as ambassador for the sport in Pakistan so that he could continue his work here.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2013.

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