Bowling fever grips corporates

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Golf course and football grounds has been taken over by bowling alleys in the corporate circuit and it looks like our corporate executives have found a perfect place not only to hang out but also beat stress. While for some, these alleys are a perfect place to overcome boardroom battles, others simply compete to be the best. This emerging trend is largely responsible for the creation of the Lufthansa Pin Strike-III — an annual corporate bowling tournament at PVR BluO bowling centre at Ambience Mall, Gurgaon.
So even as corporate executives roll up their sleeves and aim at the nine pins, they share with us how bowling is turning out to be a good way to socialise and blow some steam as well.
Vaibhav Arora, a corporate communications executive at Punj Lloyd, has been bowling for the past two years. He says, “Bowling tournaments are helping us banish boardroom blues. In the summer, bowling is the best indoor evening game. Once we’re free in the evenings, we usually meet for bowling just like we earlier met for drinks.”
The bowling tournament that is on till June 23 brings together 80 teams from different firms like Aviva Life Insurance, Apollo Tyres, Make My Trip, Manish Buildwell etc. Many executives feel that such tournaments boost the bowling culture in the capital. “Bowling tournaments are much more popular as it is competitive and lots of fun,” says Souvik Ghosh, business development manager, EI Dupont India Pvt Ltd. He adds, “Bowling is turning out to be a major mental sport as it includes the team management factor and inculcates team spirit as well. It also helps networking as we meet people from different firms who become a part of our social circle,” he adds.
A bowling fan, Puneet Gaur, head of supply and IT, s.Oliver, says corporate firms are organising bowling theme-based office meetings and get-togethers for employees. “We often organise office get-togethers over a bowling game. It’s a pleasure activity minus any pressure and everybody has a great time with each other.”
Puneet further adds that bowling is the best way to vent out anger after a bad day at work. “After a tiring day, if you are angry with your boss or a colleague, you can hurl the ball at the pins imagining it to be your boss’ head. It’s a feel-good factor in your tedious life,” he laughs.
And for Faiz Ali Khan, senior F&B manager at Oodles, bowling has become an addiction. “I tried my hand at bowling with friends and have been hooked. It’s unfortunate that bowling alleys in Delhi are not in a good condition. So, whenever I have time at hand, I head to Gurgaon for a bowling session. It’s an energetic game and infact improves concentration. It also requires a lot of patience and should be played with calm nerves to spin it right.”