Home team, Hong Kong will be led by reigning All Events and 2008 Masters gold medalist, Wu Siu Hong together with 2008 Doubles gold medalist, Eric Tseng Tak Hin. Wu, who is the only bowler to have won the Hong Kong Open three times, is also the reigning AMF Australian Masters champion.
Joining the duo are 2010 Asian Youth Masters gold medalist, Michael Mak Cheuk Yin as well as 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games Team bronze medalist, Wicky Yeung Wai Ki. 2009 ABF Tour Macau champion, Michael Tsang Pak Kei and 2010 ABF Tour Macau champion, Joshua Chow Hoi Leung are the remaining two in the 6-men team, thus providing a formidable force.
In the women's side, the 6-women team will be led by two-time Asian Ranked No. 1 and 2009 Hong Kong Open champion, Chan Shu Han. Apart from Chan, two other seasoned campaigners, Milki Ng Tsz Yin and Zoe Tam Shun Yee will add strength to an otherwise new team.
Making their debut for Hong Kong are Sonia Ho Sze Yui, Victoria Chan Chee Yan and Christine Cheung Ka Wai. The championships will provide a good avenue to gauge their ability at senior level since moving up from the youth rank.
Among the top calibre medal contenders are three-time and current Asian Ranked No. 1 and 2010 Hong Kong Open champion, Hussain Al Suwaidi of UAE, 2008 Asian Championships Masters gold medalist, Adrian Ang and two-time Malaysian Open champion, Zulmazran Zulkifli, both from Malaysia.
The mighty South Koreans are probably the strongest medal contenders at this year's event with the likes of 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games Team gold medalist and champion of two international open - Singapore Open and Daejeon Open, Hong Hae Sol.
Joining him are 2009 AMF World Cup champion, Choi Yong-Kyu, 2010 Thailand Open champion, Lee Ik-Kyu, reigning Singles gold medalist, Cho Young Seon, Choun Jae Woo and Lim Dong Sung making up Korea's six men.
In the women's division, facied Singapore bowlers - current Asian Ranked No. 1, Jazreel Tan, 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games Trios gold medalist, 2011 World Women's Championships silver medalist and 2012 IBC champion, Cherie Tan and 2010 Hong Kong Open champion, Shayna Ng.
They will, of course face stiff competition from South Korea and Malaysia. Heading the Koreans are multiple gold medalists in three previous championships, Gye Min Young, Jeon Eun Hee and 2012 Singapore Open champion, Jung Da Wun.
Malaysian challengers are three-time Hong Kong Open champion, Shalin Zulkifli, 2012 Hong Kong Open and 2012 Daejeon Open champion, Esther Cheah, two-time Malaysian Open champion, Zandra Aziela and 2011 World Women's Championships Singles gold medalist, Jaquelene Sijore.
With such a colourful list of top Asian bowlers in the championships, it promises to be an exciting event not to be missed. The 22nd edition will kick off with the official practice on Monday, September 3 followed by the opening ceremony in the evening.
Mr Raymond Young Lap Moon, JP, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs of the Homg Affairs Bureau and Mr Victor Hui Chun Fui, GBS, JP, Vice-President of Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China will officiate the opening ceremony at 7.00pm at HK Bowling City.
The auspicious occassion will also be attended by His Highness, Sheikh Talal Mohammad Al-Sabah, President of Asian Bowling Federation and Mr Kevin Dornberger, President of the World Tenpin Bowling Association & FIQ.
The 22nd Asian Bowling Federation General Assembly, scheduled for September 2, will also coincide with the championships. The Team Managers meeting will be held later in the evening during which time, team officials will finalise their players' line up.
Photos courtesy of HKTBC. |
