Ten-pin bowling aiming to be Olympic sport in 2020: 'This is bowling's time' says president

Ten-pin bowling has applied for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

Baseball and softball are considered the favourites among the 33 sport federations to have submitted an application ahead of the 8 June deadline.

But with support from over 1 million fans from Japan, where the game is growing rapidly in popularity, bowling is hoping to edge its away in.

World Bowling President Kevin Dornberger said: "World Bowling is delighted to have the opportunity to apply for the Additional Event Programme for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Bowling is truly a global game and will offer a high level of fan engagement to the event. Japan boasts a huge bowling community and we have their support behind us as we enter this pursuit. This is bowling's time."

The Tokyo organising committee is to announce a shortlist on 22 June, before finalists pitch presentations in Tokyo in August.

A final recommendation to the International Olympic Committee is expected in September but the final decision will not come until August 2016, when the IOC meets ahead of the games in Rio de Janeiro.