Champion bowler Ashley Polestra won’t let anything stand in his way as he prepares to face-off against the world’s best at the Para Bowling World Championships next year.
The 23-year-old, who lives with cerebral palsy and an intellectual disability, is one of four people who will represent Australia at the tournament in Hong Kong.
“I love bowling,” Ashley said.
“I have been bowling since I was little.”
He picked up the sport at age nine, and has since travelled around the country competing and training.
Ashley’s father, Mathew, takes him on the seven-hour round trip to Ballina every week to train with a national disability coach.
“To get to that level in the disability stage, it takes a lot of effort,” Mathew said.
“To qualify for [the world championships], you have to be part of an elite group in Australia.”
Mathew said bowling was an inclusive sport.
“Anybody can bowl,” he said.
“Disability bowling is big all over Australia, because it doesn’t matter how disabled you are or what your ability is, anyone can have fun doing it.”
While Mathew noticed poor representation from other countries at previous world championships, he said this year’s competition was going to be “really big”.
“This time going overseas to Hong Kong, there are at least five or six other countries competing with Australia,” he said.
Ashley, who last year finished third at nationals where he has represented Queensland for the last four years, said he felt nervous going into competitions.
“Then once I have started, I start to feel bit better,” he said.
Ashley is not the only disabled bowler from Logan competing at an elite level.
Crestmead sisters Emily and Britney Gardner-Hudson, aged 21 and 19, will be representing the state at nationals in Perth next year.
Emily was eight when she was diagnosed with several intellectual disabilities, including ADHD, bipolar disorder and autism spectrum disorder.
Britney lives with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and spinabiffida.
“I first found my love for bowling when we were introduced to the sport back in 2020 via our basketball coach at Special Olympic Logan,” Emily said.
“Fast track again to 2024 and now I’m fully committed to the sport, I’m now representing Queensland next year for State Nationals and hopefully my daughter can follow in my footsteps and pursue her love for bowling as well.”
She said she was shocked to learn she made nationals.
“It means everything to my younger bowling self.
“I’m super excited to explore Perth as its not everyday you get to fly somewhere to represent your state in a sport you love, so I want to bring the storm and show Perth what Queensland can do.”
Emily and Britney have faced many challenges because of their disabilities.
But it seems bowling has been their safe space.
“Sometimes I feel as though I’m been left out because of my disability, but bowling makes me feel included and not be discriminated against,” Britney said.
“We are all equal, no matter of our ability.”
