INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines- Already a legend in the sport, Paeng Nepomuceno is still crusading for bowling to someday become a full-pledged Olympic sport.

“Bowling deserves to be an Olympic sport,” the Filipino bowling icon said during Amway-Nutrilite’s media briefing on this year’s World Bowling Cup local eliminations.

In the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Arianne Cerdena won the gold but is not counted in the official tally because bowling is considered a demonstration sport.

Named as United States Bowling Congress Ambassador, Nepomuceno said he is taking steps towards making this dream a reality in the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

“As ambassador, I train coaches every month in different countries. This is in line with our goal for bowling to be included in the Olympics,” Nepomuceno said in interview.

The 52-year old Nepomuceno has won almost every major tournament, winning the World Cup four times and is a three-time Guinness record holder. He last competed in the World Tenpin Masters in Barnsley, England but failed to advance in the latter rounds.

“Marami tayong magagaling na bowlers ngayon (We have a lot of good bowlers today). I’m very proud to say that we have a good youth development program. There are so many up and coming bowlers, our future champions,” he said.

Nepomuceno is looking to surpass his own record and win the World Cup an unprecedented fifth time this year. The World Cup is considered the “Olympics of bowling” joined by players from around 100 countries.

“I just choose my tournaments. But this year, I’ll try to win the world cup for the fifth time,” said Nepomuceno, recently given the 2009 Mort Luby Jr. Distinguished Service award, given by an international organization of bowling journalists.

The first local World Cup qualifying round was held last May and a second qualifying round will be held on July 10 at different bowling centers nationwide.

Winners in the national finals this September will represent the country in this year’s International Bowling World Cup scheduled this November in Malaysia.