To the World Championships within two years
Meshael Alabdulwahid from Saudi Arabia started bowling when she was 17 after seeing the game being on holiday in the US. She enjoyed playing with friends for fun after her day job as a secretary in the Office of the Director General at the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States.
Then it all changed: One day, she played with a group of women at the Algosaibi Bowling Centre. They caught the attention of the National Coach, who immediately realized the dedication and commitment of the group. In February 2018, the Saudi Bowling Federation (SBF) first welcomed female participation and created a women’s national team.
Fast-paced career
Everything went very fast from there. Meshael’s dedication and performance stood out. Every day after work, she would spend 4-5 hours of training at the bowling centre. Meshael participated in eight local championships. One-and-a-half years after joining the national team, she was the first woman Saudi Arabia ever sent to compete at the 55th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup in Palembang, Indonesia.
She was also one of six female athletes chosen by Saudi Arabia for the first-ever women’s national team to compete at the World Bowling Women’s Championships in Las Vegas in August 2019. On that historic occasion, she competed against the world’s best bowling athletes.
Expect the best still to come
“It was a whole new level of play that I had never experienced before,” says the 33-year-old. It motivated her to train even harder, improve her skills, and commit to the highest level of performance.
Meshael’s entire national women’s team trains tirelessly. They are grateful for the opportunity they have received. And they take it with both hands. Watch this space.
