Opinion Having a bowls

Netball is one. Derived from women’s basketball,it traces its roots to the early 1890s. Similar in ways to “dry-polo”,it is a seven-a-side sport played on a rectangular court,divided into thirds,with the objective of scoring goals against the opposing team. The similarity to basketball is that the player with the ball can only take one additional step,and must use a pivot move to gain ground on the court,and must make a pass or shoot within three seconds,another similarity to basketball. However,only players assigned to offensive positions may score goals — making it different from most other ball disciplines. And it’s fast: a player with the ball can take no more than one step before passing it,and cannot hold the ball for longer than three seconds. Before dismissing it as basketball’s poor cousin,though,one should know that over 20 million people in the 70-odd Commonwealth nations play netball competitively,a far from tiny number.

Lawn bowls on the other hand,originated in the early 13th century,and is still popular in many countries — and,in fact,is gaining in popularity even beyond the Commonwealth. (Particularly in Japan and Denmark.) A non-contact sport,with minimal cardiovascular exertion,it is played on grass,and is similar in scope to curling,bowling,and other such sports. The sport is played by juniors,and by octogenarians. In fact,there is even an extremely popular professional circuit,with its world championships held in England annually and broadcast on the BBC — and watched by more than 3 million viewers.

Better known in India,of course,is squash. Interestingly,squash is mandated and recognised by the International Olympic Committee,and earlier seemed to be in contention for inclusion in a future Olympic programme. However,with the London 2012 Olympics committee deciding against squash’s inclusion,and with the Rio 2016 committee opting for the inclusion of golf and rugby sevens (another CWG sport),it is more likely than not that squash and the hallowed days where South Asians dominated an essentially Commonwealth sport,will be one of the few disciplines in Delhi where the quality will be top-notch,and at a higher level than most other such squash events lined up over the next decade or so.

It’s true that barring a few disciplines or sportspersons competing in the CWG Delhi 2010,the level of competition will for the most part not be at the level of an Olympics,Worlds,or even an Asiad. However,several entertaining disciplines will be unique to the CWG — and a learning exercise for the as yet uninitiated and at times unwilling hosts. Let’s also not forget that,not so long ago,cricket too was a CWG sport,before the debate over 20-over and 50-over versions put a premature end to its growth and its inclusion as a permanent fixture. These are sports that define the Commonwealth Games and the nations that constitute the Commonwealth. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the top athletes in these disciplines,up close and personal.

The author is a sports attorney at a national law firm. Views are personal