Returning Paeng faces test in London

Four-time World Cup champion Paeng Nepomuceno faces his biggest test since undergoing a complicated wrist surgery two years ago when he competes in the prestigious World Tenpin Masters tournament March 8-11 in London.

The 44-year-old, left-handed Nepomuceno is scheduled to fly to London today.

It will be the first international outing for Nepomuceno since he was operated on shortly after winning the World Tenpin Masters title in 1999. Paeng recently won all his three local outings, using a 14-pound ball.

Sixteen of the world’s greatest bowlers, including Nepomuceno, are competing in the London event organized by Matchroom.

The other contenders are Sweden’s Tomas Leandersson, the reigning World Cup champion; Norway’s Tore Torgerssen, former World Cup titlist and World FIQ all-event gold medalist; UAE’s former world kingpin Mohammed Al Qubaisi, American Tim Mack, the defending World Tenpin Masters titlist; England’s Steve Thorton, South Africa’s Guy Caminski, Wales’ Mel Isaac, Netherlands’ Nico Thiendpondt, Poland’s Marek Carinzski, Belgium’s Chris Van Damme and the Australian and Canadian champions.

The tourney, set on a specially-built two-lane venue inside a stadium, will be televised by Matchroom, the same outfit which organized the world billiards tournament featuring Filipino Efren "Bata" Reyes also in 1999.

Nepomuceno and Reyes won the Tenpin Masters and billiards tourney that year and both were subsequently awarded the Legion of Honor by the Philippine government. Paeng was also eventually named "bowler of the century" by the FIQ.

"I feel good. I hope to do well despite my two-year absence from the international (bowling) scene," said Nepomuceno on the eve of his departure.