Bowling Enjoyed by Visually Impaired... Majestic Strike

The Visual Bowling Haneul Club Selected for the 2020 Jeollanam-do Disabled Sports Public Project

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] In 2020, the Suncheon City Association of the Visually Impaired’s Visual Bowling Sky Club (President Kim Young-rae) was selected in the club support project category of the Jeollanam-do Disabled Sports Public Project. The Visual Bowling Sky Club will conduct Suncheon disabled sports activities from May to October.

Visually impaired bowling is classified into totally blind (TPB1) and partially sighted (TPB2, TPB3). Totally blind (TPB1) players hold a movable guide rail with one hand while rolling the ball with the other, requiring a volunteer behind them to read the remaining pins and ball flow, which is challenging. Partially sighted players (TPB2, TPB3) bowl in the same way as non-disabled bowlers.

Considering the difficulty visually impaired individuals (grades 1 to 6) face in regular physical activities, the club brings them directly to the bowling alley to engage in sports activities through bowling as a medium, and provides transportation home after exercise, ensuring the safety and convenience of the disabled users.

The ‘2020 Jeonnam Suncheon Disabled Sports Visual Bowling Sky Club’ project is operated with the National Sports Promotion Fund and Lottery Fund, and is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, Lottery Commission, Korea Paralympic Committee, and Jeonnam Disabled Sports Association.

The Visual Bowling Sky Club was formed in 2009 following participation in the 2008 Busan Braille Library Director’s Cup National Visually Impaired Bowling Competition. It consists of 13 members, including 10 totally blind and 3 partially sighted players, and holds bowling activities every Tuesday and Friday afternoon at Apple Bowling Alley located in Gagok-dong, Suncheon City.

The club has also participated in numerous national competitions such as the Jeju Samda Cup National Visually Impaired Bowling Competition and the Pyeongtaek Mayor’s Cup National Visually Impaired Bowling Competition, producing excellent players like Yoon Jong-sim, who ranked 2nd in the totally blind category, Joo Geum-hee, and Kim Soon-ja, who ranked 2nd in the partially sighted category.

In particular, the club has achieved the remarkable feat of sweeping all visual bowling events as the representative of Suncheon City at the Jeollanam-do Disabled Sports Competition, and also participates as the Jeollanam-do representative at the National Disabled Sports Competition, greatly contributing to the development of elite sports.

Meanwhile, Kim Young-rae, president of the Visual Bowling Sky Club, said, “With the selection for this public project, more disabled people in our city will participate in sports activities to maintain a healthy life. We will continue to strive to secure budgets and gain cooperation from related organizations to make the club more active in the future.”