ONE of Kerang’s brightest young bowlers will take his craft to the big leagues in June as Kerang Bowls Club’s (KBC) Michael King heads up to the Gold Coast for the 2023 Australian Open (AO).
The 10-year-old who dreams of one day competing in the Olympics for his country has been playing the sport for two years and has taken to it like a duck to water.
He has become a crucial part of the KBC’s Saturday pennant division three side.
Wise and talented beyond his years, the star in the making is now ready to take his talents up against some of the best the country has to offer.
“I’m excited for it – it’s going to be the biggest tournament I’ve ever played in,” King said.
“My nerves aren’t that high, but I’m sure they will be once it starts.
“I might not win, but it will be a good experience.”
As with most young boys, the old man is the hero and the catalyst for following the sport.
Dad David will heading north with Michael to compete in the tournament as well.
The pair play together in pennant but will need their special bond to be on full display when the duo compete in the pairs competition at the AO.
Like any father, David is incredibly proud of Michael’s progression.
“I’m very proud and I’m backing him all the way because it’s his dream,” David said.
“He’s bowling pretty well and has to get his foot in the door somewhere, so going to a big tournament like this comes at the right time for him.”
Often with father-son sporting combinations, the kid overtaking the father doesn’t come until much later in life, yet David is already the one riding the coattails.
“We play pennant together and have been in a couple of tournaments with and against each other,” David said.
“Both times we played against each other, he’s beaten me.
“He often gets asked to play in tournaments as well and they forget about poor old dad over here.”
Michael seems to have recognised this too.
“I love playing with dad most of the time because watching him bowl makes me better,” he said.
“When we’re playing together, though, it would be nice if he played a bit better.”
It has been a quick ascension in the sport for Michael – only two years ago, by his own admission he barely even knew what the sport was.
“Dad brought me to watch him play bowls one day, and I just thought it was inside bowling,” he said.
“I asked him if I could have a go and I didn’t know how to do it, but I liked it, and that’s when I knew I wanted to play.”
While this tournament is set to be a learning curve for the young star – write him off at your peril, according to Dad.
“He doesn’t like being beaten and he always wants to do one better than his opponent,” David said.
