Story by Jiexin Neo/Red Sports. Photos by Clara Yuan and Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports

2014 Community Games Bowling Yio Chu Kang CSC Koh Family

Arivazhagan, a Singapore permanent resident, in action during the 2014 Community Games. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

Orchid Country Club, Sunday, April 13, 2014 — Permanent residents are stepping out to join a number of community events such as the Community Games. Arivazhagan, 38, represented Yio Chu Kang Community Sports Club (CSC) in this year’s bowling event. He signed up for the sport with his family.

Arivazhagan came to Singapore 15 years ago from India. His interest in bowling started out back then in 1998, but his involvement in the activity was inconsistent through the years. “Last year I joined Yio Chu Kang CSC, so last year and this year I’m more active. I’m happy to play for the club,” commented Arivazhagan. Working as an electrical engineer, he did not put much time into the sport until this programme allowed him to take part wholeheartedly as it gave him a chance to gather and train with the other members.

When asked about how he felt playing alongside the other bowlers, he said, “Because normally we play individually, but here we play all together, Malay, Chinese. It’s a special feeling.”

His wife, Satthiya Bairavi, 30, joined him in Singapore seven years back. Her interest in bowling only started out last year when her husband joined the CSC. Their seven-year-old daughter, Ashika, was seen cheering on her father and uncle last Sunday. She also just started to bowl as a hobby, as the lightest ball weight of 5 pounds is still too much for her to handle. The couple believes that their daughter will get more involved in the sport when she is older.

With the family of three was Satthiya’s brother, Santhosh Prabhu, who is 27 this year. He is actually more involved in badminton, but decided to join the Community Games with his sister’s family this year so that they can have more family time together. This is his first time trying out bowling.

Arivazhagan’s best memory of being with the team was when they went on an outing together. “That time my company provided the free coupons for the Zoo, so we all went together,” recalled Arivazhagan.

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