The Hong Kong team made history at the 2016 World Championships at Christchurch, New Zealand, on Tuesday, Nov 29, when 15-years-old Gloria Ha became the youngest ever bowler to play in the top-class global competition.
Meanwhile, the team also hope that the inclusion of some young players will help them to break a 28 years medal drought. The last medal Hong Kong won in this competition was in 1988 when Sandi Zakoske, Rae O'Donnell and Naty Rozario bought home a bronze in the ladies triples.
This year the competition has high profile international bowlers from 31 qualifying countries to compete across four disciplines in both gender. The games will last until Dec 11 at the Burnside, Fendalton and Bowls Papanui greens.
The Hong Kong team, led by team managers Glyn Davies, who is also the Vice President in charge of International, will engage in six of the eight disciplines available, with the exception of the women’s singles and men’s triples which they were not qualified for.
Ha, a student born in 2001, started bowling when she was eight and joined the Hong Kong Youth Development Team in 2011. She has represented Hong Kong to win a gold medal in the Mixed Fours at the National Bocce (Lawn Bowls) Elite Championship in 2015.
In addition to Ha, other Hong Kong Youth Team products including Jason Choi, James Po and Vivian Yip are also a crucial part of the team. They are joined by experience bowlers such as the reigning National Singles champion Dorothy Yu, Tony Cheung, Terry Kung, Raymond Ho, Mercredi Yeung and Camilla Leung to fight for glory.
In the 50 years of history of the World Championships, Hong Kong has won nine medals, including four golds, and is positioned at 9th on the overall medal table.
Hong Kong team line-up
The Hong Kong team managed by Glyn Davies comprises: Tony Cheung (Singles); James Po, Tony Cheung (Men Pairs), Dorothy Yu, Vivian Yip (Women Pairs); Dorothy Yu, Vivian Yip, (Women’s Triples) and Terry Kung, Raymond Ho, James Po, Jason Choi (Men Fours), Gloria Ha, Dorothy Yu, Mercredi Yeung, Camilla Leung (Women’s Fours).
Claudius Lam is an officer of the Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association
