KOLKATA: Long before she became a Commonwealth Games gold medallist in lawn bowls, Pinki Singh was making a name for herself on the cricket field, playing for the Delhi women’s team and sharing the ground with some of India’s biggest stars, including Mithali Raj.Today, nearly two decades after she first picked up a lawn bowl ahead of the 2007 National Games in Guwahati, the Arjuna Awardee remains one of India’s leading players and is set to represent the country in the upcoming Test series in New Zealand, being held as part of the centenary celebrations of sporting ties between the two nations.Pinki’s sporting journey is anything but conventional though.A physical education teacher at DPS RK Puram in New Delhi, she played cricket for Delhi for around five years in the Rani Jhansi Trophy and led the side as captain while representing her university. She also played football at the university and national levels before an unexpected introduction to lawn bowls changed the course of her career.“I got to know about the sport in 2006 when some of the coaches came to our school to train players as part of the preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games,” Pinki said during an interaction here ahead of leaving for Auckland on Friday.“Then, at the 2007 National Games in Guwahati, lawn bowls was introduced for the first time and I was picked for the Delhi team because the coaches felt I had the patience required for the sport.”It proved to be the start of an unlikely success story, with Pinki finishing on the podium at her first National Games competition.Nearly 20 years later, Pinki is among India’s most experienced lawn bowlers, having played a key role in the historic women’s fours team that won India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in Birmingham in 2022. She has also won multiple medals at Asian Lawn Bowls Championships over the years.But despite her success in lawn bowls, cricket remains close to her heart. One of her fondest memories involves former India captain Mithali.“I remember Mithali playing a cut shot while I was fielding at point, and I managed to take the catch. Moments like that stay with you forever,” Pinki recalled.She, however, has no regrets about leaving cricket.“People often ask me why I didn’t continue with cricket, but I’ve never felt that I made a mistake. I followed what gave me satisfaction and happiness,” said Pinki. “If I had chased money, I might not have earned the medals, honours and experiences that I have today. Cricket will always remain close to my heart, but I am proud of the path I chose in lawn bowls.”Now, as India prepares for the Test series in New Zealand, the veteran is eager to guide the next generation of players, including the youngest member of the four-member squad, Jharkhand’s Reshma Kumari, while chasing more success on the international stage.“As senior players, we always tell the younger ones to stay calm and patient. Give your best every time you step onto the green. If you lose, you learn. If you win, you push for even greater heights,” she said.Meanwhile, Pinki remains as driven as ever even 20 years after swapping cricket whites for the lawn bowls green. “It’s simply my love for the game. Once you’ve achieved something, you want to maintain that standard and keep representing India with pride.”