RIYADH, October 7, 2024 – The gap between megastars and athletes competing in lesser-known sports is striking. Take Cristiano Ronaldo, for instance. The Portuguese football legend is reportedly earning around €200 million a year at Al-Nassr, a staggering amount of money that flows into his bank account whether he plays every match or warms the bench.

Meanwhile, in the same country, the top bowlers have to fight for every cent they earn, winning is their only way to make money, as salaries are not part of the deal in this sport.

GROWING SPORT Bowling, a discipline that many might not even consider a sport, is part of Saudi Arabia’s growing sports ecosystem. While the sport was an exhibition event at the 1988 Summer Olympics, it has never made a full Olympic debut. Yet in Saudi Arabia, bowling has found a place in the prestigious Saudi Games, where male and female champions in the senior competition walk away with a jaw-dropping €242,000 in prize money, a substantial prize compared to global standards.

However, despite these significant rewards, the reality for most bowlers is far from glamorous. According to Walid Aldossary, the technical delegate for bowling at the Saudi Games, many competitors are semi-professional, earning little to no income from the sport.
 

LITTLE TO NO INCOME In fact, they often need to invest their own money to compete, as high-quality equipment – such as bowling balls, bags, shoes, and accessories – can cost several thousand euros.

“Most of the athletes work full-time,” Aldossary explains. “The Saudi Federation helps, but not enough to make bowling a primary profession. Most people do this for their love of the sport.”

TOP BOWLER Aldossary gestures toward lane 10, where a young bowler named Abdulrahman Alkheliwi is in the middle of a game. Abdulrahman, Aldossary’s former student and two-time Saudi Games champion, is one of the favourites to win this year’s gold. “He won the last two years (two million Saudi Riyal, half a million Euros) This guy! Is he old now? No! He’s young. Is he a total professional? No, but he’s the best,” Aldossary says proudly.

CHALLENGE Despite his success, Abdulrahman’s journey is not an easy one. At 27, he juggles a full-time job, working 8-9 hours a day, which limits his practice time to up to four hours a day – sometimes less. “With so little practice, it’s impossible for him to be the best in the world,” Aldossary admits.

FOOTBALL TO BOWLING Abdulrahman’s passion for bowling began after a leg injury forced him to leave football, a sport he played professionally for two years as a child. His family introduced him to bowling during his recovery, and he quickly fell in love with the sport. He admits that he’s not yet ready to dedicate himself entirely to bowling, as the sport is not widely popular in Saudi Arabia. 

“If I were in the USA or Europe, there would be more sponsors, scholarships, and well-paying tournaments, which would make it easier.”

LACK OF EXPERIENCED COACHES Another challenge is the lack of professional bowling coaches in Saudi Arabia. Aldossary, Abdulrahman’s former coach, emphasizes the need for foreign expertise from countries like the USA and Scandinavia, which dominate the sport globally. 

“Without experienced coaches, it’s hard for athletes to reach their full potentials,” he says.

KEY FIGURE Abdulrahman considers himself a professional now, thanks to his achievements, though he’s still working full-time. “The difference between bowling and other sports is that if you don’t win, you don’t get paid.” 

At 27, Abdulrahman remains a key figure in Saudi bowling, a sport that is slowly growing but still lacks the infrastructure to support full-time athletes. With only a handful of professional coaches in the country, and most top competitors juggling day jobs, the road ahead remains uncertain. Yet, as he steps onto lane 10, aiming for his third consecutive Saudi Games title.