Kunal Rawal leads: National bowling

The first day of the Challengers round for the Mumbai region of the Color Plus National bowling championship saw leading bowlers in action. Kunal Rawal led the bowling order of the day with a total score of 2638 points (scores are cumulative of six games of challengers round and eight games of the qualifiers round)

The challengers round for Mumbai region began on Wednesday and will go on till September 14. The top 32 players from the challengers round will compete with one another in the qualifiers round.

In the challengers round each bowler will bowl eight games each and the top six scorers will qualify for the finals of the Color Plus National bowling championship, scheduled for October 2001.

Grish Chugani, with a score of 2552 points, was in second position and Aqueel Ali, with a score of 2535, was in third.

The other bowlers of the day were Bitu Aanad, with 2471 points; Aspi Tangri, with 2458; Rahul Suradkar, with 2348; Vishal Gupta, with 2323; and Raj Mahida, with 2312.

The ColorPlus National bowling championships, India's apex bowling tournament held under the aegis of Bowling Federation of India, is also the highest prize-money tourney with Rs 5,10,000/- at stake. The ColorPlus champion will win a purse of Rs. 100,000 and will also represent India at all international bowling events.

Consolidated scores at end of day 7 (first day of challengers round)

Professionals: Kunal Rawal 2638, Girish Chhughani 2552, Aqueel Ali 2535, Bitu Anand 2458, Aspi Tangri 2457, Rahul Suradkar 2348, Vishal Gupta 2323, Raj Mahida 2312