Sunnywest Bowling is more than a sport: Kath

The 17th Sunnywest Bowling Carnival is not about trophies, but building a bowls community Fiji can be proud of.

Founder and patron Graeme “Booga” Kath commented on the opening of the event at the Nadi Sports and Social Club on Thursday night.

Kath founded the tournament in 2008 with some of Fiji’s finest bowlers of Santok Singh and Shorab Khan.

“This carnival was never just about trophies – it’s about building a bowls community that Fiji can be proud of,” he said.

“We envisioned a platform that would unite local and international bowlers in camaraderie and competition.”

This year’s event has attracted more than 48 international bowlers from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, along with Fiji’s top talents from Suva to Nadi. More than 100 spectators are also attending daily.

“My group has been coming back since day one,” said Kath, who runs Booga’s Bowls Tours in Fiji and Samoa. The tours have operated in the South Pacific since 1993.

Extra Foods and General Hotel Supplies Pte Limited director Rupesh Nand said it was great to come on board as the major sponsor.

“This partnership reflects the unwavering dedication that has transformed this event from a humble gathering into Fiji’s most prestigious lawn bowls tournament,” he said.

Club vice-president Lawrence Kumar said the tournament has grown into a regional sports tourism event that promotes community building beyond competition.

Meanwhile, legendary bowler Som Padiyachi is not competing this year as he plans to take a break after being unable to form a strong team.

Since 2008, Padiyachi has won four titles across the four disciplines and two pairs titles.

Other sponsors are Premium Signcrafters, Portion Pak, Zens Medical, Bogga’s Bowls Tours, and Media Metro.

The fours final will be played on Sunday, while the pairs competition starts on Tuesday with the final on Thursday.