Executive director of the bowling association, Sami Järvilä, urges Emilia Soini to familiarize herself with other sports before playing them in public.
Emilia Soini does not understand why the bowlers received a grant. Tommi Tapola / Squash Association
– Damn, what a joke.
This is what the Finnish squash star said Emilia Soini30, when he was left without a grant from the Ministry of Education and Culture, but the full 24,000 euros were distributed to the four bowlers.
Soini opened up about it on Instagram on Wednesday. He said he respected bowlers but did not consider it a top sport.
– A nice and demanding sport, but not a sport, summed up Soini.
The executive director of the Keilailuito Sami Järvilän according to Soin’s comments have caused a lively discussion in sports circles. He finds the revelation unfortunate.
– This kind of juxtaposition of sports does not serve Finnish sports, Järvilä sees.
Accurate gauges
According to Järvilä, the bowlers have fully deserved their grant.
– After the Paris Olympics, the Olympic Committee made a big change to the elite sports side, and the new grant criteria were brought out very carefully, says Järvilä.
According to the man, an athlete must belong to the top of the world in his own sport.
– There are certain metrics. Must be among the top eight in the world. And you could read between the lines that if you get a medal, then the grant would be certain.
Finnish bowlers won no fewer than six medals at the World Championships last year. Soini has been at her best on the world list at number 41. In Järvilä’s opinion, ignorance of the grant criteria shines through in the woman’s opening.
– The criteria have certainly been known to all sports federations, and I myself have at least not heard that anyone has complained about them. That’s why I don’t understand this kind of output.
Top sports
For many people, bowling might remind you of a Saturday night, a couple of balls and a relaxed competition with a group of friends. Perhaps Soini has also thought about the sport this way?
At the top level, the sport is completely different, according to Järvilä.
– Our best bowlers have certainly lived like top athletes, Järvilä says.
According to the man, getting to the top has required millions of throws and tens of thousands of training hours, just like in any other sport.
During the year, Finland’s best bowlers spend no less than 70 days abroad at training and game camps. They are also given various lectures on nutrition issues.
– In addition, we have psychological coaching and physical tests twice a year at Kuortanee sports college. The tests are built on the same basis that McLaren’s F1 team once tested in Kuortane. Of course, they have been modified to suit our species.
The physique must be in order, because the bowling ball weighs seven kilograms.
– You have to throw it for a few days to get to, for example, the World Cup final. It means that thousands of kilos will be carried over the course of a couple of days.
Bowling also requires an eye for the game.
– You must have track reading skills and equipment knowledge. You can’t get on top without them.
A little tip
After the opening of Soin, Järvilä’s email received a message from the executive director of Squashliito From Mika Monto.
– It apologized and said that the Squash Federation would withdraw from the individual athlete’s statement. I appreciate it, Järvilä says.
There are currently 4–5 professional bowlers in Finland who were stabbed in the back by Soini. The sports community is significantly larger, as there are approximately 7,000 competitive bowlers.
For Soin, Järvilä wishes nothing but good things in the future, despite the difficult opening.
– Maybe he didn’t quite understand what our sport requires. That’s why it’s worth getting to know the topic a little better in the future before it opens.