Glasgow, July 23: Putul Sonowal made a remarkable debut in the lawn bowls competition at the Commonwealth Games, pulling off a stunning upset against reigning world champion Ryan Bester. This match took place in the men’s singles sectional play category.
Sonowal began her campaign in Section D, where she faced Canada’s Bester in an exhilarating match that went down to the wire, ultimately decided by a tiebreaker. After a regular time finish of 1-1 in Round 1, Sonowal triumphed in the tiebreaker.
Ranked 21st in the world, the Indian player took an early lead by winning the first set 5-4 against the two-time Commonwealth Games silver medalist. However, Bester fought back to claim the second set with a score of 7-3.
Bester, an experienced player, won the toss and rolled first in the tiebreak. He has a notable record, having won seven medals in singles and pairs at the World Outdoor Championships, including a gold and a bronze in the 2023 edition.
Despite the challenge, Sonowal’s initial attempts brought her close to the target, ultimately securing her victory. She will face Cecil Alexander from the Falkland Islands in her next match on Friday.
After her win, Sonowal expressed, “This match against the world champion was crucial for me. I lost to him in the quarterfinals in 2023. Defeating him at the Commonwealth Games feels fantastic. I wasn’t under much pressure; I managed to win a tough match in my pool. Now, the next match is against a strong Malaysian team, and our goal is to reach the semifinals.”
Sonowal, who works with the Assam Police, added, “After the women’s team won gold and the men’s team secured silver at the Commonwealth Games 2022, lawn bowls have gained popularity in India. While we played this indoor event here, we practiced outdoors in India. I hope more indoor lawn bowls facilities are established in India.”
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