Commonwealth Games 2026: Age No Barrier as Singapore’s Para Bowlers Target Podium

Having represented Singapore at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Asian Para Games, Singh will be making his debut at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Photo: SportSG/ Jeremy Lee

Para bowler Mawjit Singh may be the oldest member of Singapore's 53-athlete contingent heading to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games from July 23 to Aug 2, but he is determined to do far more than simply make up the numbers.

The 62-year-old will make his Games debut at the Scottish Event Campus, where he and long-time friend and partner Khimern Mohamad, 56, will compete in the B6-B8 men's pairs event. The duo earned their place at the Games after securing a historic joint bronze medal at the 2023 World Bowls Championships, Singapore's first-ever podium finish at an event of that stature.

As Asia's sole representatives in the event, they will face formidable competition from hosts Scotland, England and New Zealand, as well as traditional powerhouses South Africa and Australia, who joined the Singaporean duo on the podium at the World Championships three years ago.

“You need to have the hunger,” said Singh. “We want to be on the podium. We are dreaming, and we hope the dream becomes a reality.”

But behind the lofty aspirations of securing Singapore’s first-ever medal in the sport at the Games is a tale of toil and grit under the sun on the Kallang Lawn Bowl green.

The pair, who have represented Singapore at the Asian Para Games — with Khimern winning bronze in the men's singles B7 event at the delayed 2022 edition in Hangzhou, China — have spared no effort in ensuring they arrive in peak condition for the Games.

"We have put in countless hours on the green under the sun, and we've travelled to training venues in Kuala Lumpur and Glasgow for training camps," said Singh. "We did well there, but we'll need to raise our game again at the Commonwealth Games because the countries we trained with will also be looking to improve and beat us."

That meticulous preparation included competing in May’s Four Nations Series at the Glasgow Indoor Bowling Club, where the Singapore duo finished second behind Australia, ahead of Ireland and hosts Scotland, while gaining valuable experience on the carpet greens they will encounter again at the Games.

While the demanding travel schedule and back-to-back competitions can wear down many athletes, Singh says they have had the opposite effect on him. Since taking up lawn bowls in 2014, the 62-year-old feels he has only grown "younger, healthier and fitter".

"I don't feel like I'm 62. I'm still improving, and I believe I have many good years ahead of me," said Singh, who underwent an above-the-knee amputation after being involved in a traffic accident in 1984.

"We're already looking forward to next year, when we'll compete in several club tournaments in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines."

But for now, Singh and Khimern have their sights firmly set on securing a place on the podium.

To get there, they will be relying on the chemistry and trust they have built over years of competing together.

"In pairs, you really need to understand each other's strengths and weaknesses," said Singh. "If your partner delivers a poor bowl, you still have to reassure him that it can turn out to be a useful bowl. We have to keep encouraging each other, especially in a major competition like this."

The bronze medal at the World Championships, he added, transformed the duo's belief and approach to the sport.

"The World Championships made me a better player, and I've also seen Khimern improve since then. Our thinking, our style of play and our strategies have all improved. We want to be on par with the world's best players, and that's why when we went to the Four Nations Series a month ago, we were able to match them strategically."

Singh and Khimern will also draw strength from the close-knit lawn bowls community back home, whose encouragement has accompanied them throughout their journey.

"Everybody motivates each other. That's the best part of this community," said Singh. "We're a very small community, and when I was here this afternoon, everyone knew we were leaving on Tuesday. Everybody who came to the green stopped to wish us all the best and told us, 'Go and do your best. We know you can do it.' "

It is a show of support the duo hope to repay with another landmark performance and, perhaps, Singapore's first Commonwealth Games medal in para bowls.

The 23rd Commonwealth Games are held in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August 2026. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.