2011 Johannesburg, South Africa

The two-time QubicaAMF Bowling World Champion (2010 Toulon, France, and 2005 Ljubljana, Slovenia), Michael Schmidt of Canada, has won his way through to defend his title this year in Johannesburg, South Africa.     But he will face stiff competition from our 2007 (St Petersburg, Russia) runner up, the ever popular Jason Belmonte of Australia.   And in the women’s section our two protagonists from the 2006 final in Caracas, Venezuela, will be facing up again. Diandra Asbaty of the USA, our champion, will be making her second appearance in the event, as will Lisa John, of England, our runner up that year.   It is all shaping up very nicely for a spectacular event this year.   

QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup Manager, Anne-Marie Board, said: “I cannot wait for the competition this year! Just imagine: Michael and Jason, Diandra and Lisa – that is so exciting!  And most countries have not declared their players yet.”

The tournament is scheduled for November 30th to December 7th in the Northcliff Bowling Centre, owned by Let’s Go Bowling South Africa. It will be the second time that the Bowling World Cup finals have been held in South Africa, the first time being in 1993.

Our host now as then will be Gerald Paluzzi, who commented: “We at Let’s Go Bowling are very pleased to host this year’s QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup. Every time I see an updated participant list, I get more excited.    “And I also hope that many competitors will take the opportunity to see more of the wonders of South Africa. We have a lot to offer, especially with the Kruger National Park on the doorstep of Johannesburg.”

We will also be welcoming back the Tranier couple from New Caledonia, Marin and Samy-Anna, who first met at the Bowling World Cup in 1992 and married in 2009. Steve Thornton will be the male representative from England who will be making his third appearance in the finals and who hit a perfect game in 2005. Jennifer Willis-Park will be the female representative for Canada, making her second appearance having finished 8th in 2008.

P.S. The Champions of 1993 were Rainer Puisis of Germany and Pauline Smith-Buck of England. Only one South African has ever won the title – Anne Jacobs who won in Hermosillo, Mexico, in 1994.
South Africa has a population of over 50 million, the most famous and revered of whom is undoubtedly Nelson Mandela, often known as Madiba, his Xhosa tribe name.  It is a country rich in sporting heritage, boasting world champions in many sports and it hosted the FIFA World Cup last year.  Its rugby team is among the favourites to win the World Cup in October this year, in New Zealand.
QubicaAMF Worldwide is the founder, organiser and principal sponsor of the Bowling World Cup.