Mohammed 'Chico' Qureshi is playing for Pakistan in Glasgow, where the restaurateur who runs the Alishan Tandoori is competing in the Commonwealth Games men's singles. The 67-year-old, who has lived in Glasgow for more than 50 years, was in action at the SEC Centre before Scottish bowler Jason Banks faced Robert Simpson of Jamaica.
Banks, the first Team Scotland athlete to compete at these Games, said he knows it is usually best to avoid Qureshi's restaurant this week. That is because Qureshi, who will face Banks on Friday, is well known to him as the boss of the southside venue and as a bowls competitor for Pakistan.
How did Qureshi fare in his opening match?
Qureshi lost his opening Group C match against Wales' Ross Owen in straight sets, 12-5 and 17-0. It was the first match of his second home Games, after he competed at the 2014 Games on the outdoor green at Kelvingrove 12 years ago.
A member of Glasgow Indoor Bowling Club, just round the corner from his restaurant, Qureshi had been putting in the hours to prepare for the conditions. Even so, he said the match was not close to what he had hoped for.
“That's the worst game I've ever played,”
“It was very tricky to get going. The more I was trying, the worse I was getting.”
Despite the defeat, Qureshi still has four Group C games left and says he is hoping for a much better performance on the carpet. Off the rink, he also joked that his supporters may have been put off by what they saw.
“I had a few here,”
“But, with my performance, I don't think they'll come back again!”
Will Jason Banks be eating at the restaurant this week?
Banks says he is not planning to return to the Alishan Tandoori for now. The 30-year-old from Inverurie, who held the world indoor singles, pairs and mixed pairs titles last year and has been known to dine in Glasgow's southside, joked that he did not want to risk it while Qureshi is competing.
“I'm a bit scared to go back this week in case he puts something in my food,”
“So I'll stay away just now.”
What does this mean for the rest of the competition?
Qureshi remains in the event with four Group C matches still to play, while Banks continues his Commonwealth Games campaign for Team Scotland. The two are set to meet on Friday in the men's singles at the SEC Centre, adding another layer to a meeting that links elite bowls with one of Glasgow's best-known curry shops.
Key Facts
- Mohammed 'Chico' Qureshi runs the Alishan Tandoori in Glasgow and is playing for Pakistan.
- Qureshi is 67 and has lived in Glasgow for more than 50 years.
- He lost his opening Group C match against Wales' Ross Owen 12-5, 17-0.
- Jason Banks, from Inverurie, is the first Team Scotland athlete to compete at these Games.
- Banks will face Qureshi in the Commonwealth Games men's singles on Friday.
