Semesa Naiseruvati successfully defended the men’s category of the 2025 Kontiki Finance Pineapple Cup Lawn Bowling Competition, which took place last Saturday at the Suva Bowling Club.
Naiseruvati retained the title after beating Shiwal Chand 21-7 in the final.
Prior to that, he had beaten Eseroma Taubale in the semi-final 21-9 and won 21-6 over Phillip Lacey in the quarter-final.
For finalist Chand, he made it through to face the defending champion after beating Olaf Allen Jr 21-7 in the semi-final and winning 21-18 over Ishwar in the quarter-final.
Chand is also a young bowler, having only taken up the sport two years earlier and had worked his way to being a finalist against the defending champion Naiseruvati.
The men’s division had players divided into eight pools with four bowlers, from which the top two qualified after three rounds.
Male bowlers who made it to the elimination rounds were Ishwar, Dan Lum On, Chand, Surend Prasad, Allen Jr, Ricky, Ramesh Chand, Shaneel Prasad, Bobby Prasad, Taubale, Pita, Saki, Phillip Lacey, Niuqila, Etuate and Naiseruvati.
In the women’s division, Elizabeth Moceiwai emerged as the new champion for the category after beating Radhika Prasad 21-16 in the final.
Both women bowlers earned their spots in the final after compelling semi-final performances.
Prasad won 21-8 over Losalini Tukai while Moceiwai beat defending champion Sainiana Walker 21-12.
In the quarter-finals, Moceiwai had beaten Anna Prasad 21-4, Radhika beat Sarote Hiagi 21-9, Walker beat Varasila Vosalotaki 21-9 and Losalini Tukai beat Litia Tikoisuva 21-18.
Meanwhile, the competition was held at the bowling club with a large turnout of more than 50 competitors.
Credit agency Kontiki Finance had come on board to sponsor the tournament once again for the seventh year.
The bowling club’s vice-president Ramesh Chand acknowledged Kontiki’s support and looked forward to having it on board for the tournament next year.
