Chu You-tien surprised everyone, except his family, when he won the 19th Bowling World Cup at Mexico City in early December. At 47, he is probably both the oldest and least known champion in the history of the tournament.
Before Chu entered the prestigious AMF bowling championships, he had attended a couple of Asia-Pacific regional tournaments last year, and he attended and failed to place in October's F.I.Q. championship in Venezuela. And that sums up his acquaintance with international bowling tournaments.
Chu has a rather unorthodox style, acquired by watching and experimenting. A self-taught right-hander, he bowls from the left side (inside) of the alley into the 1-2 pocket, generally considered a weak approach. After the ball leaves his hand, he hooks his arm upward, instead of pushing it forward in usual style. And over the past five or six years, he has bowled with the lightweight 10-pound ball, only switching to the 12 pounder after his disappointment in Venezuela.
In Mexico, Chu bowled brilliantly. Competing with 39 national champions, he was on the top-sixteen list after the first three days of competition. "I was told by my coach, Chang Ho-sheng, just to bowl. He said he would take care of everything else for me," Chu told the press.
Coach Chang believes at least part of the reason for Chu's win was his fierce concentration. He says probably because of Chu's advancing age, he is more able to control the undulant emotions that so often handicap tournament competitors.
By the end of the forth day, Chu had amassed 3,209 points for eight games and a number-four standing. He was now contending the championship with seven other semi-finalists. At that point, Mike Jasnau of the U.S. held down first, with 3,460 points.
Chu did finally feel the effects of his tight competitive schedule, the high altitude of Mexico City, and also, his food. Made aware on previous trips that he could not subsist on a Western diet, Chu arrived with two cases of instant noodles from home. But, two packs of instant noodles a meal was not his regular diet either, and it began wearing him down. Nevertheless, he persevered.
On the fifth day, Chu outdistanced his seven competitors, winning himself first-seed spot in the finals.
On the last day, Michael Chuah of Malaysia defeated fourth-seeded Enrico Maddaloni of Italy, 191-184, and second-seeded Mike Jasnau, 194-164, and claimed his match with Chu. Chu, totally cool now, boomed out three strikes, defeating Chuah 213 to 180, to take the world title. When the ROC national flag was raised to the strains of the ROC national anthem, the whole ROC delegation was on cloud nine. "It was as if all our difficulties and problems were suddenly non-existent," said Chang Ho-sheng.
Chu and the Cup—A surprise ending for everybody
Chu's victory was, actually, one of the greatest upsets in the international tournament's 19-year history. And it also came as a stunning surprise for both the Republic of China team and for bowling fans in the Republic of China.
For the ROC public at large, the victory was also sweet, and savored. Republic of China athletes have been denied, too many times, chances just to compete in international tourneys in recent years because of political interference orchestrated by Communist China. Denied entry visas, the ROC athletic team could not compete in the Montreal Olympics. And there have been numerous other incidents. In any case, at Mexico City, sports was the object, and on the island of Taiwan, the street corners buzzed with the news of the outcome.
Still, team visas were shaky this time too. The team received a Telex from the international association just five days before its scheduled departure date indicating the visas would probably be granted, and actually received them only a couple hours before their plane's scheduled departure.
It is interesting to note that while Chu's practice game average is 203 points, that his game average at Mexico City was 213 points, including his personal highest at the tournament—248 points.
Chu, a pop-and-mom grocery store owner, is the first person, male or female, from the Republic of China to hold a world bowling championship. Unlike most tournament entries, who have pursued perfection in their sports, Chu rolls the ball for fun. And his 168 centimeter tall, 150 lb. frame is not exactly the ideal for a bowler. Nor was he ever known for athletic achievement, even at school. So much greater the surprise and impact of his win here.
Chu first entered a bowling alley twelve years ago on a humid summer afternoon, more in search of the air-conditioning inside than of a pastime. But since, he has never been able to walk out of a bowling alley willingly. He became a fixture at Kaohsiung's Minzu Bowling Stadium every afternoon and evening.
Chu bowled for fun and health, but when he came back from the Venezuelan tourney with a very poor record, he started to have second thoughts. He put himself on a rigid training schedule that included jumping rope, working out with dumbells, jogging for two hours a day, and practicing with a heavier ball.
Noting Chu's odd four-step, arm-up style, veteran coach Cheng Hsu-shan, comments, "It is true luck. Condition of the body counts, but only around 30 percent; 70 percent of success is from practice. But Chu is a very, very avid practicer, and if the form works for him, it is certainly suitable for him."
Practice means at least eight games a day, and at NT$50 (US$1.25) a game, the bill can be quite heavy for the proprietor of a little, southern Taiwan grocery store, with a family.
But behind every winner is a hero, in this case, Mrs. Chu Ongg-hua. Though she sees her husband at work only in the mornings, then disappear for hours in the bowling alley 'using up their profits, she sympathizes with his passion. "He is so interested, that I think he deserves to spend the money, although it is a burden for our family."
Bowling introduced to Taiwan about 20 years ago, has had the image of a regular sport only for the more affluent. Among the estimated 50,000 bowlers in Taipei, 90 percent are businessmen and their families—mostly people between the ages of 30 and 50. Few young people are attracted because of the expense—and perhaps the older image. But all this has been changing along with the rising living standards on the island. Moderate bowling is no longer a very expensive pastime, as things go, and Chu's win here is expected by entrepreneurs to herald a new boom on the alleys.
Right after Chu's victory, a great many people, including Education Minister Chu Hwei-sen and ROC Amateur Sports Federation Chairman Cheng Wei-yuan, immediately cabled their congratulations to the new world bowling champ. Since his return Chu has been awarded two athletic medals, and been the subject of enthusiastic receptions. There is little doubt, for Chu You-tien, life will never be the same.