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Bahar Cil has only been playing lawn bowls for 12 months, but she's managed to take down one of the world's best.
Key points:
- Turkiye had a surprise win in one of the rounds of the World Bowls Championship
- Lawn bowls is not popular in Turkiye, but there are high hopes for the country's young team
- This year's championships are the biggest in its 57-year history, with 44 countries competing
The 26-year-old beat Commonwealth Games silver medallist Lucy Beere in round three of the World Bowls Championship being held at the Gold Coast this week.
Ms Cil said she was surprised as much as anyone else.
"I competed without actually knowing she was a world champion," she said.
"I wasn't under any pressure or stress, and I only realised what I achieved after the game."
It was not a fluke either, with Ms Cil going on to win another two games in the women's singles competition.
But more importantly, she is part of a small but eager team of young Turkish players looking to make it in a sport typically dominated by Western countries.
'The calm' of lawn bowls
The event is held every four years, which means the pandemic caused a seven-year hiatus. This 2023 World Bowls Championship is the biggest since the competition started in 1966.
More than 540 players from 44 countries are competing over two weeks.
A keen bocce player, Ms Cil said she wanted to compete in the championship after learning bowls last year.
"I've always liked the attitude of the lawn bowls players," she said.
"It really grabbed my attention — their demeanour, their calm."
But lawn bowls is not a popular or even well-known sport in Turkiye.
Team coach Ozkan Akar said that made resourcing a trip to the Gold Coast a last-minute struggle.
"Nobody knows bowls in my country, so it's very difficult to find the equipment and other things to play," he said.
To make it, the team enlisted the help of the Gold Coast Turkish community and an unsuspecting local bowls club.
'Supporting the underdog'
Southport Bowls Club venue manager Glenn Stevenson said when he met the Turkish team last week, they were "keen as mustard".
"They actually just walked into the club one afternoon, and I happened to be on the bowls desk, and we jumped straight on the greens, and we're learning how to bowl in five minutes," he said.
"One of the members hadn't even bowled before."
Mr Stevenson said locals had been happy to teach them and "nurture them along".
"That's the best part of lawn bowls — the camaraderie and the spirit," he said.
The club also donated bowls and equipment for the team to compete in the championship.
"It's a great example of the true Aussie spirit," Mr Stevenson said.
"Someone supporting the underdog and getting behind them."
Young team with bright future
Ozkan Akar said with the majority of the team aged in their 20s, he had high hopes for the future.
"All my team members are very young, very new but very talented," Mr Akar said.
"More practise, more experiences, and we will get success."
Bahar Cil's said her first trip to Australia had come with valuable lessons.
"I was really impressed with the interest Australia gives to the sport," she said.
"I'm hoping this type of interest could be transferred to Turkiye, which would help grow the sport.
"As I keep improving my game, I hope to reach the summit one day."
The World Bowls Championships are being held until September 10.