Itakura, Haugen win 2001 World Cups - News, Notes, & Quotes - Nachimi Itakura and Kim Haugen - Brief Article

Bowling Digest, Feb, 2002 by Lydia Rypcinski

NACHIMI ITAKURA OF Japan and Kim Haugen of Norway won the women's and men's titles last November 10 at the 2001 AMF Bowling World Cup in Pattaya, Thailand.

Itakura disposed of Liza del Rosario of the Philippines in two games, 247-224 and 257-224, to become the first Japanese person ever to capture the Bowling World Cup. Itakura, a 26-year-old from Wakayama City who hopes to become a professional bowler, said there were two motivating factors that contributed to her victory.

"My mother was in the crowd today, cheering me on, and I wanted to play well and give her a victory," Itakura said. "Also, my Japan Bowling Congress coach told me to come home a winner, so now I can fulfill his request and bring home Japan's first World Cup."

Haugen, who went into the arena phase as the No. 8 seed, was nearly perfect in defeating the 1999 World Cup champion, Ahmed Shaheen of Qatar, 238-216 and 290-186. Haugen, 22, follows in the steps of two other Norwegian World Cup champions, two-time winner Arne Stroem and 1994 champion Tore Torgersen, in capturing Norway's fourth World Cup.

"What I've done hasn't really sunk in yet," Haugen said afterward. "I didn't allow myself to think of a victory, even when Shaheen left the 4-6-7-9-10 split in the middle of the final game. I knew that something like that could happen just as easily to me, and I felt that I had to keep my mind on my next frame only.

"All week long, I just wanted to do my best, and it's a wonderful feeling to know that my best was good enough to win."

A theme of unity ran throughout this World Cup. Eleven years ago, when the World Cup was also in Pattaya, three Arab players withdrew from the tournament rather than be paired with an Israeli bowler who had made the top 24. This year, extensive behind-the-scenes negotiations resulted not only in Israel pairing with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in the top 24, but also in the Israeli bowler, Yahav Rabin, and Qatar's Shaheen bowling head-to-head in the quarterfinals.

Afterward, players and coaches from both countries embraced. Something that would have been unheard of a decade ago became a quiet tribute to those on all sides of the political arena, who risked a lot in this show of unity.

The 38th AMF Bowling World Cup will be held in Riga, Latvia, October 20 to 26, 2002.