17th December, Hong Kong, China: Hong Kong, China is hosting the IBF Para Bowling World Championships from January 17 - 24, 2025, in the new 40-lane bowling centre, Top Bowl, located in the Kai Tak Shopping Mall at Kai Tak Sports Park.
The IBF Para Bowling World Championships, along with Asiaray Media Group Limited and Panasonic as the Gold Sponsors, are proud of this "M" Mark event, which will help enhance Hong Kong’s status as Asia's sporting events capital. The "M" Mark, awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolises that this is a spectacular signature event on the city's sporting calendar. Ms. Vivien Lau, SBS, JP, Chairman of Hong Kong, China Tenpin Bowling Congress, said, "This is a very special championship for us. This is the first time for us to be involved in a para sport with an 'M' Mark branding."
To date, 18 countries/regions have confirmed their participation, namely Australia, Bermuda, Czech Republic, Finland, India, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Macao, China, Malaysia, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, Spain, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States of America and Hong Kong, China.
About 190 athletes, along with approximately 120 team officials, will participate in the championships. There are seven classification of athletes. Visually Impaired athletes have three classifications, TPB1, TPB2 and TPB3; Intellectually Disabled athletes TPB4 has two divisions, Virtus and Special Olympics; while Physically Disabled athletes are classification under TPB8 (wheelchair), TPB9 (loss of lower limb) and TPB10 (loss of upper limb).
The Hong Kong, China Para Bowling Team consists of 22 athletes competing in all seven classification. The Men's Team consists of 13 athletes, including Cheung Hoi Tung (TPB3), who won four gold medals at the 1st Asian Para Tenpin Bowling Championships and two silver medals at the IBSA World Games 2023; and Chow Pui Kin (TPB10), who won two gold medals and one silver medal at the 1st Asian Para Tenpin Bowling Championships.
The Women's Team comprises nine athletes, including Lau Hiu Chun (TPB1), who won one gold medal and one silver medal at the 1st Asian Para Tenpin Bowling Championships and two bronze medals at the IBSA World Games 2023; and Man Sui Sze (TPB2), who won two silver medals and one bronze medal at the 1st Asian Para Tenpin Bowling Championships and one silver medal and two bronze medals at the IBSA World Games 2023.
The Hon. Kenneth K. K. FOK, JP, Member of the Legislative Council; Mrs. Jenny Fung Ma Kit Han, SBS, JP, President of China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee; Ms. CHUI Hiu Lo, JP, Deputy Director of Leisure & Cultural Services (Leisure Services); and Mr. Tony Choi Yuk Kwan, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Sports Institute, will be officiating VIPs at the IBF Para Bowling World Championships Press Conference being held today at 12:30 p.m. in Olympian City 2.
With the support of its Official Community Partner, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and in conjunction with the championships, a series of activities under the "Jockey Club IBF Para Bowling World Championships Community Programmes" will be organised to raise awareness of para bowling in the Hong Kong community, including a four-day sports and cultural booth exhibition and mini-bowling experience sessions in Olympian City 2 from today until December 20.
This is the first time the Hong Kong, China Tenpin Bowling Congress has organised a sports and cultural booth together with a mini-bowling experience as an exhibition in a shopping mall. Three mini-bowling lanes will be set up for the public to try their hand at the sport, aiming to bring para bowling closer to the public. The 2023 Asian Tenpin Para Bowling Championships gold medallist Cheung Hoi Tung, 2024 Paris Paralympic Games Wheelchair Badminton silver medallist Daniel Chan, Boccia gold medallist Ho Yuen Kei and 2023 World Bowling Championships gold medallist Wu Siu Hong have been invited to host a sharing session and perform at the kick-off ceremony of the sports and cultural booth.
On January 4, 2025, a bowling experience session will be held in the new bowling centre in Kai Tak Sports Park Shopping Mall. The Hong Kong, China team and the Malaysian national team will conduct a Para Bowling training session for underprivileged youth and ethnic minorities from the Jockey Club Fong Shu Chuen Integrated Children & Youth Services Centre, underprivileged youth from Po Leung Kuk, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and the Hub Children and Youth Centre in Shum Shui Po, disabled youth from the Hong Kong Society for the Blind, intellectually disabled bowlers from the Hong Kong, China Sports Association for Persons with Intellectually Disability, and physically disabled bowlers from the Sports Association of the Physically Disabled of Hong Kong, China.
The Opening Ceremony for the championships will be held at Top Bowl in the Kai Tak Sports Park Shopping Mall on January 17, 2025, at 6 p.m.
The Hong Kong, China Tenpin Bowling Congress would like to express its gratitude and appreciation to its Official Community Partner, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Gold Sponsors Asiaray Media Group Limited and Panasonic, and Official Partners Wo Hing Construction Co Ltd, The Lions Club of Hong Kong West, Kirin Parkview Hotel, Germagic and all supporting organisations for their contribution to the successful staging of the championships.