CWG 2022: The connection between MS Dhoni and the Indian women's Lawn Bowls team
Indian Women's Lawn Bowls team lead Lovely Choubey has revealed an interesting connection with former Indian men's cricket team skipper MS Dhoni.
The very first name that pops up when someone mentions Ranchi is undoubtedly Dhoni. The wicketkeeper enjoyed plenty of success with the Men in Blue and etched his name into Indian sporting history.
The Indian Women's Lawn Bowls team seem to be on their way to doing the same following their brilliant displays at the Commonwealth Games 2022 (CWG 2022).
India lead Lovely Choubey and Dhoni hail from the same city. She recently stated that the 41-year-old showed a keen interest and knew "a lot" about Lawn Bowls.
Choubey, a constable with Jharkhand Police, trains regularly at the RK Anand Bowls Green Stadium in Ranchi. Dhoni is one of the high-profile visitors she has often encountered during her training sessions.
Read: CWG 2022: India Women's Fours Lawn Bowls result: India beat New Zealand 16-13, enter final to assure first-ever medal
Choubey went on to state that Dhoni is well acquainted with their coach and has visited the team a couple of times earlier.
"Dhoni sir knows our coach in Ranchi and has come to see us at the greens twice over the years. We have a Dewri Mata temple closeby, when he goes there he comes to see us as well," she told PTI in an interaction from Birmingham.
Creates History at @birminghamcg22 
New Zealand (SF)
๐ฎ๐ณ Creates History at @birminghamcg22 ๐ฅ
India's #LawnBowl Women's Four team creates history by becoming the 1st Indian Team to reach the Finals of #CommonwealthGames
India ๐ฎ๐ณ 16- 13 ๐ณ๐ฟ New Zealand (SF)
They will now take on South Africa in the Finals on 2nd Aug
#Cheer4India https://t.co/tu64FSoi8R
She reminscised on the talks she has had with Dhoni about the game, adding:
"We have had a chat about the sport as well. He said that whenever he is in Australia, he goes to play Lawn Bowls."
CWG 2022: Indian Women's Lawn Bowls team on the cusp of history
The Indian Women's Lawn Bowls team assured itself a historic first-ever CWG medal after defeating New Zealand 16-13 in the semi-finals of the Womenโs Fours event.
They conceded a 0-5 lead after the second-end to find themselves in a spot of bother. The Indian team, comprising Lovely Choubey (lead), Pinki (second), Nayanmoni Saikia (third) and Rupa Rani Tirkey (skip), then made a strong comeback.
๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ฉ #B2022 
๐จ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ฉ #B2022 ๐จ
#TeamIndia's first-ever Commonwealth Games medal in ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฃ ๐ฝ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐จ has been sealed by our women's team of Rupa Rani Tirkey, Nayanmoni Saikia, Lovely Choubey and Pinki Singh ๐๐ฅ
We will be playing for gold tomorrow ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ณ https://t.co/Od2sKjgqZV
After end-9, they were tied 7-7 and after end-10, India took 10-7 lead. But it was a close contest between the two sides and New Zealand were marginally 13-12 ahead after the end-14.
A brilliant shot from Tirkey helped the Indian Women's Lawn Bowls team seal the game with a 16-13 scoreline.
Watch: Mirabai Chanu's mother adds North East flavor to victory celebrations after historic Commonwealth Games Gold