The lawn bowls men’s pairs, women’s pairs and women’s triples team got their competition off to a slow start on Monday at the Jawaharlal stadium.

But they are not fazed by their close losses on day one as the three teams have up to nine games to play yet in their divisions.

Ladies pairs Mou Tokorangi and Nane Tere were the first to roll up on Monday morning against a very young Indian duo.

The first set was a close battle between the two teams that went right down to the wire with India taking out the first set of nine ends 9-8.

India’s bowling strengthened in the second set to give the Cooks a stiff battle.

Pairs skip Mou Tokorangi says that their Indian opponents’ straight bowling forced them to take outside lines which put pressure on the duo.

Despite the second set loss 10-7, Tokorangi is confident of their performance today.

The pair will play two games today – one against Botswana and the other against South Africa.

“We have to win all our games,” Tokorangi said.

Their standing in pool play will determine their fate for the remainder of the pair’s tournament.

The women’s triples team also had a tight battle in their first end of their match against Malaysia.

According to triples skip and Team Cook Islands flag bearer at the games, Kanny Vaile, the Malaysian team is a professional outfit paid to play bowls.

Their time on the green certainly outweighs that of the local mamas triples team including lead Tai Jim and second Porea Eliza who believed they could have taken their first set against Malaysia.

Malaysia narrowly won the first set 9-8 before really pulling out the big guns to take out the second 13-5.

“We are still in though,” says Vaile .

“This was just our first game in the competition.”

“Our bowls were not quiet there today and the Malaysians were taking the shots – that’s how I felt,” added Vaile.

In the men’s division – the Cook Islands pairs players Tupou Maihia and Takai Kairua faced off against a duo from Swaziland.

After Swaziland took out the first set of nine ends 11-6 the local pairing hit back to take out the second set and force the tie breaker.

But the Cooks duo was unable to take control of the tie breaker with the win going to Swaziland 4-1.

The men’s triples team of skip Denis Tokorangi, Ina ‘Vou’ Tou and Vaine Henry will roll up today for their first competition.

The bowls tournament continues every day during of the 13 day Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Bowlers are impressed with the artificial greens and they will be there again at midday today (India time).

More storie s, photos – pages 12 and 13