2023 World Championships: singles preview
When the first bowl is sent down at the 2023 World Bowls Championships, 2,564 days will have passed since the final delivery was distributed in Christchurch seven years ago.
The global bowls community has endured a pandemic throughout this wait for the tournament, which was set to take place in 2020 and 2021 before being pushed back to this year, and we are set for the most sensational edition yet.
For the first time in the event’s storied history, open and para bowlers will combine as they do at the Commonwealth Games that will see more gold medals up for grabs than ever before in what is to be the most inclusive World Championships to date.
Both of the reigning men’s and women’s singles champions in Shannon McIlroy and Karen Murphy will not be competing at the event meaning that there will be a new winner in both of the blue ribbon events for both genders.
The men’s singles sees Aaron Wilson return to the site of his 2018 Commonwealth Games triumph with an even bigger target on his back, having saluted in Birmingham last year.
Wilson will be striving to become just the third bowler in history, after David Bryant and Margaret Johnston, to win Commonwealth Games and World Championships singles gold medals and put him into the most elite company.
The man that the man affectionately known as Disco defeated in the Birmingham final last year in Gary Kelly will be looking to stand on the top step of the podium for Ireland.
Two-time singles silver medallist and bronze winner Ryan Bester will also be involved in the draw as he strives to salute in an event that he has consistently progressed to the business end of.
Another notable in the singles draw will be New Zealand’s Andrew Kelly, who is fresh off the silver medal at the World Bowls Indoor Championships in May, as will 2022 World Champion of Champions conqueror in England’s Sam Tolchard.
The man who Tolchard defeated in Naenae last year in Malaysia’s Izzat Dzulkeple will be taking part in the draw, as will South African national champion Wayne Rittmuller and Wales’ two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Daniel Salmon.
Finally, Birmingham bronze medallist Iain McLean will front up again for Scotland as he looks to continue to build on his list of accolades.
In the women’s singles, Australia’s Ellen Ryan enters the tournament looking for the same history as Wilson in conquering the discipline in both the Commonwealth Games and World Championships.
Ryan became the first Jackaroo to win gold on UK soil at the games last year after her victory over Guernsey’s Lucy Beere in the final.
Beere herself will be contesting the event on the Gold Coast, as will the formidable English star Katherine Rednall.
New Zealand Blackjack Tayla Bruce will be one of the favourites in the field considering her sensational singles form over the past year, with her crowning glory being last year’s World Champion of Champions, where she overcame Carla Krizanic for the title on home soil.
South Africa’s hopes of gold will be bolstered by the inclusion of former Commonwealth Games pairs gold medallist Colleen Piketh in the field, while Malaysia’s Nurul Alyani Jamil will also prove to be a handful as she looks to continue the strong form that her country has previously exhibited in singles play.
Norfolk Island’s Shae Wilson has enjoyed some brilliant results over the past year, progressing to the semifinals in Birmingham last year and the Multi Nations in March, which will give the 24-year-old an abundance of confidence heading into the tournament.
Canada will see Kelly McKerihen attempt to go better than her 2016 bronze medal, and with her form on the Gold Coast already strong after a run to the semis at the Australian Open in June, it would be no surprise to see her featuring late in the event.
Finally, Scotland’s hopes will be carried by Emma McIntyre who will be making her tournament debut, while Switzerland’s Laura Butler will be in a confident frame of mind following a sensational Australian Open.
The World Bowls Championships runs from August 29 to September 10, 2023, on the Gold Coast.
