Milika Nathan

{{Infobox sportsperson

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| name = Milika Nathan

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| nationality = Tongan

| birth_date = c.1990{{cite web|url=https://nz.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2006-BBNZ-Annual-Report.pdf |title=BBNZ Annual-Report |publisher=Basketball New Zealand |access-date=23 December 2024 }}

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| club = Birkenhead BC

| highestranking =25 (June 2025)

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Milika Nathan (born c.1990) is a Tongan international lawn bowler, who became a world champion in 2024 after winning the World Singles Champion of Champions.{{cite web|url=https://matangitonga.to/2024/12/03/tongan-bowler-named-world-champion |title=Tongan bowler named World Champion |publisher=Matangi Tonga |access-date=23 December 2024 }} She reached a career high ranking of world number 25 in June 2025.{{cite web|url=https://worldbowlsseries.com/female-rankings/ |title=Female rankings |publisher=World Bowls Series |access-date=19 June 2025}}

Bowls career

In 2024, Nathan surprised the bowls world by winning the World Singles Champion of Champions, which was held in Auckland, New Zealand.{{cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/535436/auckland-teacher-milika-nathan-wins-world-bowls-champion-of-champions-women-s-singles-title-for-tonga |title=Auckland teacher Milika Nathan wins World Bowls Champion of Champions women's singles title for Tonga |publisher=RNZ |access-date=23 December 2024 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360506942/auckland-school-teacher-milika-nathan-wins-world-champion-champions-bowls-title-tonga |title=Auckland school teacher Milika Nathan wins world champion of champions bowls title for Tonga |publisher=Stuff |access-date=23 December 2024 }} The Tongan who had qualified for the event by virtue of winning her national title claimed the gold medal by beating the established nations. After winning six of her seven pool matches, she defeated Teokotai Jim in the quarter-final, Stef Branfield of England in the semi-final and Anne Nunes of the United States in the final.{{cite web|url=https://results.mc.worldbowls.com/competition/eac5e39b-eebb-4988-9a34-6f1629b5755a#ladder |title=2024 World Bowls Champion of Champions Women's Singles |publisher=World Bowls |access-date=23 December 2024 }}

Nathan had previously also won her national indoor title, which qualified her to compete in the 2023 World Bowls Indoor Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.bowls.com.au/2023-world-bowls-indoor-championships-preview/ |title=2023 World Indoor Bowls Championships Preview |date=4 May 2023 |publisher=Bowls Australia |access-date=11 May 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1133354/world-bowls-indoor-championships-2023 |title=World Bowls Indoor Championships fields confirmed for 2023 event in Australia |date=7 February 2023 |publisher=Inside The Games |access-date=11 May 2023}}

Personal life

At the time of her bowls success, Nathan was a teacher by trade and worked at Northcote Intermediate School.

References

Category:Living people

Category:1990 births

Category:Tongan bowls players

Category:21st-century Tongan sportswomen