Bowling and friends keep these octogenarians active

Even after five decades in the game, Australians Fely Shih and Gary Bernardin are still going strong as they competed at the Syntech Asian Seniors Bowling Championships over the past week at SingaporeBowling @ Rifle Range.

- Kimberly Kwek Sports Correspondent

While bowling is not a full-time endeavour for the octogenarians, who are the oldest competitors at the Oct 14-22 tournament, their passion in the sport has kept them going since the 1970s.

Shih, 81, was introduced to the sport around 1973 by her husband, who was also a bowling coach at the time. Two years later, they joined a friendly league, kick-starting her journey in competitive bowling.

Balancing a career as an early childhood teacher, a role she has held for over 50 years and continues to do on a part-time basis, the grandmother of four teaches in the day and bowls at night.

On what keeps her going, she said: "Meeting friends who give me the incentive to practise and improve my bowling. I love to see all my friends, especially at my age, I need friendships."

The camaraderie with other competitors is also what keeps Bernardin, 83, in the game, with the duo among 320 bowlers participating at the event in Singapore.