RIP Kalim

The Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) extends sincere sympathies to Mrs Usa Kalim and families on the passing this week of Abdul Kalim, a long-time General Secretary, athlete and Team Manager of Fiji Bowls.

Kalim as he was known to his friends and colleagues, was an avid bowler who started his bowling career in Ba in 1998.

He joined the Suva Bowling Club after competing in the social business house bowls competition the club ran.

Kalim first joined ‘Team Fiji’ under the auspices of FASANOC when he was appointed to assist the Bowls Event Manager for the 2003 South Pacific Games that Fiji hosted.

He went on and managed and represented Team Fiji at:

 2006 - Commonwealth Games, Melbourne, Australia (Manager Bowls Team)

 2007 - Pacific Games, Apia, Samoa (General Manager Team Fiji)

 2009 - Pacific Mini Games, Rarotonga, Cook Islands (Athlete)

 2011 - Pacific Games, Noumea, New Caledonia (GM Team Fiji)

 2014 - Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, Scotland (Athlete in Triples and Fours)

 2019 - Pacific Games, Samoa (Athlete), Gold Medal Triples & Bronze Medal Fours

In 2014 when he was selected for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, he said it “was a dream come true – I feel proud and honoured”. His biggest advocate was his wife Usa who loved sport and was a great influence in his bowling career as a critic, coach, mentor and friend.

As an elite bowler, Kalim represented Bowls Fiji and competed for the National Team on many occasions:

 2009-2012 & 2014-2018 - China Open, Shenzen, China (Gold Medal 2010)

 2009-2012 & 2014-2018 - Tiger Bowls, Hong Kong (Gold Medal 2010)

 2009 - Asia Pacific Championship, Malaysia

 2011 - Asia Pacific Championship, Adelaide, (Bronze Medal in Pairs)

 2012 - Champion vs Champion Singles in Cyprus

 2015 - World Indoor Singles, Warilla, Australia

 2019 - Asia Pacific Championships, Gold Coast, Australia

Kalim managed Fiji National Bowls Teams to the 2008 World Bowls Championships where the triples team won Silver Medal and several international events including:

 2004 - Ayeshire, England

 2005 – Match against RQBA, Queensland, Australia

 2005 - Asia Pacific Championship, Melbourne, Australia

 2006 - Manager for Ratish Lal, Champion Vs Champion, Christchurch, New Zealand & Merdeka Open, Malaysia

 2007 & 2008 - Manager for Ratish Lal, World Indoor Singles, Warilla, Australia

 2007 - Asia Pacific Championship, Christchurch, New Zealand

 2008 - World Bowls Championship, Christchurch, New Zealand

Kalim won numerous club and national titles and gave back to his sport as an administrator. He held the position of Secretary of the Fiji Bowling Association as it was known in the day from 2003. In 2014 when the men’s and women’s associations merged as Bowls Fiji, Kalim was appointed the Interim Secretary for four years 2014-2018 and then General Secretary 2018-2019.

The following message was received from the CEO of World Bowls: “World Bowls is saddened to hear of the passing of Abdul Kalim. I had personally met him on many occasions at international events and had the pleasure of his company. Please convey our deepest condolences to his family, friends and Bowls Fiji colleagues, our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time. We give thanks and appreciation for all his efforts on behalf of our

sport over many years. With deepest sympathies.”

FASANOC President, Mrs Makartia Lenoa said “Kalim was an avid bowler and a very reliable and responsible administrator and events organizer. He will be greatly missed and long remembered for his many contributions to the sport of bowls in Fiji as well as his services to FASANOC and Team Fiji.”

Kalim was laid to rest on Tuesday 27 July. May he Rest in Peace.

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