Tongan bowler, Milika Nathan was named the Women’s Singles World Champion at the World Bowls Champion of Champions held at the Browns Bay Bowling Club in North Harbour, New Zealand on Saturday, 30 November 2024.
Nathan, who competed for Tonga at last week’s Oceania Challenge in Auckland, won her way through qualifying, moving in to the quarterfinals with a dominant performance over Teokotai Jim from Cook Islands.
The Auckland-based school teacher did not expect to win but, she was hopeful in the beginning that she would make it to the Top 8.
"At the start of this week I was just trying to make it into the top eight," Milika said. "It was like using a drive and upshot every time and make sure I was up in those conditions.
However, Milika made it to the finals by the end of the week and defeated the defending World Champion, Anne Nunes of the United States of America.
“I never thought that would happen, ever” she said. “It is funny that I will walk back into my classroom on Monday."
She said she didn’t think about playing Anne in the finals rather she tried to focus on her own game.
She joined Australian bowler, Lee Schraner who claimed the men's title for the second time in edging out New Zealand champion Aiden Takarua in a tightly fought final 6-4 4-4.
To win the final Millie had to overcome what were extremely challenging conditions. For after fine weather for the tournament’s first four days Saturday brought constant showers.
Milika teaches at the Northcote Intermediate School in Auckland, New Zealand.
As well as her s Birkenhead club, Bowls North Harbour and the Browns Bay club, took pride in her win. North Harbour said that Milika was one of their most popular bowlers. “Her win at international level at the weekend capped what so far has been a meteoric bowls rise.”
“Millie, who has been playing only seven seasons after joining her father Peter and brother Chad, both also accomplished bowlers, at Birkenhead, while only in her early 20s. Before that she had been a promising basketballer who gained New Zealand honours at age-group levels.”
While she represented Tonga, North Harbour stated that Milika “joined an illustrious band of New Zealanders, who have won this event since it was launched in 2003. Among the women have been Jan Khan in 2010, Jo Edwards in 2011 and 2018, Sandra Keith in 2012 and just two years ago Tayla Bruce.”
