For over five decades, Mohammed "Chico" Qureshi has served up steaming plates of tikka masala to hungry Glaswegians from his curry restaurant on the south side of the city. These days, though, the 73-year-old is dishing out something quite different — a whole lot of determination on the bowling green.
Qureshi is representing Pakistan in lawn bowls at the Commonwealth Games, making history as both a longtime Scottish business owner and a competitor on the international stage. His journey to Birmingham started at Glasgow Indoor Bowling Club, just around the corner from his restaurant, where he has been putting in the hours preparing for the conditions at the Games.
"It was something of a dream for Qureshi to go again in a second home Games after taking to the outdoor green at Kelvingrove 12 years ago," the article notes, reflecting on his first appearance in Glasgow during the 2014 Commonwealth Games. "That experience gave him a taste of what it means to compete at this level."
His opening match against Wales' Ross Owen proved challenging. Qureshi lost in straight sets — 12-5 and then 17-0 — a tough start to his campaign. "That's the worst game I've ever played," a still upbeat Qureshi told BBC Scotland. "It was very tricky to get going. The more I was trying, the worse I was getting."
But all is far from lost. Four Group C games still remain, giving Qureshi plenty of opportunity to turn things around. His spirits remain high, and there's even a lighthearted subplot to his tournament: Ross Owen Banks, the former world number one who has held the world indoor singles, pairs, and mixed pairs titles, is a regular customer at Qureshi's restaurant — though Banks joked he might stay away for a while after the result. "I'm a bit scared to go back this week in case he puts something in my food," Banks quipped.
Despite the setback, Qureshi's story stands as an inspiring example of following one's passion no matter the odds. At an age when many would be content behind a counter, he is competing on a global stage, proving that it's never too late to chase a dream. His restaurant loyalists who came out to cheer him on may have been discouraged by the opening result, but Qureshi himself hasn't lost his sense of humor or his competitive fire. Next up: a match against Banks at 14:45 on Friday. Perhaps the home cooking will give him the edge he needs.