Hong Kong, China will become the second Asian city to host the World Bowls Junior Indoor Championship in December which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Co-sanctioned by World Bowls and the International Indoor Bowls Council (IIBC), the World Bowls Junior Indoor Championship is open to players Under 25 years of age from all the members countries/regions around the world.
The history of the event can be traced back to 1998 when it was entitled WIBC Junior Championship, solely organised by the World Indoor Bowls Council. It changed to the current format in 2019 with the WIBC becoming the International Indoor Bowls Council and reintroducing players from the World Bowls membership countries to the competition.
The event has been held on 24 occasions the first event being held in Llanelli (Wales) in 1998.
Only a men’s event was held on that occasion and the first winner was Darren Burnett (Scotland). The following year the event was also held at Llanelli and saw the ladies’ event taking place for the first time with Karen Murphy (Australia) taking the first title.
The year 2004 saw the introduction of the mixed pairs for the first time and the inaugural winners were Catherine Beattie (Ireland) and Wayne Hogg (Scotland).
The 2024 event is being played in Asia for the second time since its introduction.
Seelong IBC (Malaysia) staged the event in 2007 whilst every other championship has been held in the United Kingdom.
The Hong Kong event will run from December 2-8 at the indoor green of Hong Kong Football Club, the venue for the inaugural World Cup Indoor Singles Championship back in 2005.
A total of 42 players from 21 countries and regions will participate in the event.
This annual Indoor Championship will feature two disciplines, singles for both men and women and mixed pairs. For countries who don’t have a mixed combination to enter, World Bowls and IIBC will arrange to pair them with the opposite gender to ensure all single entries are competing in the mixed pairs event. The playing format will consist of two sets of seven ends with a three-end tie break.
Past winners include the current World Bowls Series’ No 1 ranked player in the world Stewart Anderson and Australian legend Karen Murphy, although many of the current day stars have also won either the women’s, men’s and/or mixed pairs events.
Hong Kong bowlers Adrian Yau and Chilli Leung put Hong Kong’s name on the IIBC Junior Championship trophy list for the first time in 2015 after defeating the Welsh pair of Daniel Salmon and Lowri Powell in the final of the mixed pairs. Yu Yee Sin also lifted a silver in the women singles in 2022.
Local hopes this year fall to Quenton Ip, Nixon Man, Gillian Ng, Emmy Luk, Abbie Chan and Emily Chan.
Overseas bowlers to look out for during the championships include England’s Aaron Johnson, who was runner-up in the Scottish International Open recently, 2022 Commonwealth Games representative John-Pierre Fouche from Namibia, USA’s Angel Gomez who made history with his dad becoming the first father and son team to medal at the National Championships a few months ago, 2017 mixed pairs winner Emma Boyd, women’s triples bronze medallist at World Bowls 2023, who represents Canada, but plies her trade at Club Tweed in Australia, European Championships gold medallist Lara Reaney from Ireland, who will be looking to retain the titles won by Shauna O’Neill 12 months ago, Wales’ Lauren Gowen, who made her debut on the Potters’ blue carpet in January, and 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Rebecca Rixon from Malta who will no doubt be looking to emulate her sister Connie’s silver medal success at the senior event of this competition in Guernsey earlier in the year.
Vincent Cheung, president of the Lawn Bowls Association of Hong Kong, China, said: “The event is one of the highly anticipated fixtures on the global lawn bowls calendar, particularly for our younger bowlers. This year, talented young players from 21 countries and regions will showcase their skills and compete against each other for the coveted titles.
“It is a great honour for Hong Kong to become the second Asian city to host the World Bowls Junior Indoor Championships. This is in line with Hong Kong’s policy to promoting the development of sports through promoting Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events.
“I would like to express our appreciation for the dedication and untiring efforts of World Bowls and the International Indoor Bowls Council to make this annual event possible. I am sure the exhilarating matches to be staged will thrill all lawn bowling fans and boost the development of the sport around the world.
“Also, thanks to all the ITOs, umpires, markers, volunteers, officials and sponsors who contribute to the success of the event.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome all the young players to Hong Kong and encourage them to explore Hong Kong, the Asia’s World City. You will definitely find there are a lot of things to see, eat and do in Hong Kong, more than just bowling.
“May I wish this event a resounding success and all the participants an enjoyable experience.”
Neil Jensen, chairman of the host club, Hong Kong Football Club, said: “Hong Kong Football Club is delighted to be working with World Bowls and the Lawn Bowls Association of Hong Kong, China and to be chosen as the host venue for the 2024 World Bowls/IIBC Under 25 Championships. It is a particular privilege, as this is the first time the championship has been held in Asia.
“Lawn Bowls has been played at Hong Kong Football Club for more than 90 years and is one of our core sports. We are looking forward to welcoming the very best young bowlers from around the world to Hong Kong and to our club. We aim to make this championship a truly memorable experience for everyone involved and to provide the perfect platform for a celebration of the skill, passion and camaraderie that defines the sport of bowls.
“Hong Kong Football Club is grateful for the opportunity to support the development of elite sports in Hong Kong and demonstrate our ability to host world-class sporting events.”
Neil Dalrymple, World Bowls CEO, said: “World Bowls is very grateful to the Lawn Bowls Association of Hong Kong, China, for agreeing to host this event and I am very encouraged by the level of interest and entries.
“Providing opportunities for our young and emerging Bowlers is very important to the future aspirations of our sport in terms of our worldwide profile and brand and the chance to win a world title is an amazing attraction for all who enter.
“On behalf of the IIBC and World Bowls, thank you to the host club (HKFC), together with all the volunteers and officials, who I am sure will make this a memorable occasion for all who play and attend.”
For more information regarding event, contact: Neil Dalrymple, CEO, World Bowls, [email protected]
Caption: Competitors at the 2023 World Bowls Junior Championships
Author: Ceris Hewlings, World Bowls media officer
