Pillay, Kumar ready for Banana Cup
Kushal Pillay and Arun Kumar aim to repeat their 2017 victory at the annual Banana Cup 2020 competition at the Suva Bowling Club this weekend. The Nadi duo won the pairs final three years ago defeating David Aitcheson and Rajnesh Prasad 15-14 in the final.
Pillay, 43, said they were looking forward to finish top again.
“We’ve been preparing well and hope the weather will also be good in Suva this weekend.
“Competition will be tough for sure as other teams are looking forward to the first competition since COVID19 pandemic.
“We have been training for the last three weeks. I was looking forward to the World Indoor Singles in England and the World Bowls Championship in Brisbane but both were cancelled due to COVID19,” said the Nadi businessman who has been involved in the sport for a decade now.
He made his international debut at the
2016 World Bowls at New Zealand.
Kumar, 59, who has been participating since 1992, is looking forward to the twoday event. He was a national rep for the last 20 years from 1997 to 2017.
Other teams to watch include Semesa Naiseruvati and Rajnesh Prasad, Bobby Prasad and Sanjeet Sen, Dan Vinod and Munesh Kumar.
In the women’s division, Doreen O’Connor and Litia Tikoisuva, or Sheryl Mar and Loretta Kotoisuva should be the favourites. Suva Bowling Club secretary/manager Maureen Lavaki said the two-day meet was expected to bring the best from bowlers. “Bowlers are eager to play after the three months lockdown,” Lavaki said.
The defending champions are Ramesh Chand and Martin Fong and Litia Tikoisuva and Losalini Tukai for the ladies.