Jarid James wins bronze at Bowls World Cup, calls for better SA funding

South Africa's Jarid James has secured a bronze medal in the Para Men’s Singles division at the inaugural Bowls World Cup, held from 4 to 8 November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

James expressed immense pride in his achievement, which saw him finish third in the world at the high-stakes international competition.

"I feel proud of my performance. It was an honour to represent South Africa and to finish third in the world. The competition was tough, but I stayed focused and gave my all in every game.”

Speaking to Eyewitness News, James noted his plans for future improvement, focusing on consistency, shot selection under pressure, and quicker adaptation to varying green speeds and conditions when playing overseas.

He previously represented South Africa multiple times and has brought home medals from the Bowls World Cup in Kuala Lumpur and the IBD (International Bowls for the Disabled) Tournament.

"I learned that mental strength, patience, and preparation make a huge difference at international level. I also realised the importance of staying calm and trusting my training, no matter how challenging the match is."

READ: South Africa's Jarid James clinches bronze at Bowls World Cup

Competition Results and Local Challenges

Australia’s James Reynolds was crowned the new World Cup Para Men’s Singles winner, securing a 2-0 victory over India’s Utpal Basumatari in the final with section scores of 6-4 and 8-1. Bronze medals were awarded to Jarid James of South Africa and Wai-Sum Tong of Hong Kong, China.

James highlighted the disparity in resources between South Africa and other top nations, stressing the need for better support locally to enable players to reach their potential.

"In South Africa, we have passionate players and great talent, but we lack some of the funding, facilities, and media coverage that countries like Malaysia and Australia enjoy. Those resources help their players reach top performance levels."

He added that he would like to see more sponsorship opportunities and better support for disabled and young bowlers. "More funding would allow players to travel, access better training, and help the sport grow across South Africa."

The New World Bowls Event

The competition, which featured both para and able-bodied players from 12 nations, took place indoors at the Bukit Kiara National Lawn Bowl Centre. This new addition to the World Bowls calendar is considered one of the sport’s highest-ranked international competitions outside the Commonwealth Games and World Championships.

Bowls Malaysia made history as the inaugural hosts of the exciting event, which serves as a prelude to the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Twelve nations competed over five thrilling days in the singles and pairs events: host country Malaysia, plus the top eleven highest-ranked countries from the 2023 World Championships—Australia, Canada, England, Hong Kong China, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, USA, and Wales.

James started playing bowls socially at his local club and grew to love the sport.

"Over time, I grew to love the game and began competing more seriously. The encouragement from my club and community helped me to keep pushing myself to improve."

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