Karnataka’s Srinath Pobbathi and Tamil Nadu’s Sabeena Saleem, also an international medallist, will defend their titles in the Allsec Technologies 19th National Tenpin Bowling Championship to be held at the Star City bowling alley from August 6 to 12.

This is the second year in a row and fourth time that the Nationals are being conducted in the City. Eleven states have sent in entries for the event. There will be 64 men’s competitors and 20 women’s bowlers.

Ajay Singh, Girish Gaba, Vijay Punjabi, Sethu Madhavan (all Karnataka), G Dinesh Kumar (TN) among the men and Pratima Hegde, Judy Alban, Sheila Kumar (all Karnataka), Sumati N (AP) and Sana Sabeena (TN) in the women’s section are the top competitors. These players were also in the Indian team which took part in the Doha Asian Games.

In addition, Sheikh Abdul Hameed, a Commonwealth Championship medallist, will turn out for Delhi, while Harshavardhan Sarda (Delhi) and 2005 National champion Shashi Kumar (Karnataka) are the other top contenders.