24th January, Hong Kong, China: Hong Kong China created history after an outstanding performance at the 2025 IBF Para World Bowling Championships with nine gold, five silver and four bronze medals to finish second overall in the medal tally.
Lau Hui Chun and Hong Ka Lung got off to a superb start with Lau capturing the Women's TPB1 Singles gold and Hong the Men's TPB1 Singles silver medal on the opening day of the championships. Chan Tat Chung added a second gold in the Men's Singles TPB2 category.
Cheung Hoi Tung captured Hong Kong's third gold medal in the Men's TPB3 category while Chu Wing Kum took the Women's TPB3 Singles silver medal. In the TPB4 category, however, the host nation drew blank as Malaysia and Sweden took glory by winning the Men's and Women's Singles gold medals.
Hong Kong China team celebrates an outstanding performance at the championships
Hong Kong bounced back brilliantly when Hong Ka Lung and Cheung Hoi Tung edged Korea to the Men's TPB1+3 Doubles gold medal by 11 pins. Lau Hui Chun and Chu Wing Kum was well beaten by the stronger Koreans and had to settle for the silver medal in the Women's division.
The Singles for TPB8 category (wheelchair) saw Korea winning the gold and USA the silver and bronze medals as Chan Tat Kwong was Hong Kong's best finisher in ninth position in a field of 24. Chinese Taipei picked up the Women's TPB8 Singles gold with Korea and Thailand the silver and bronze medals. Hong Kong's Wong Mei Lan missed the podium finishing fourth.
Malaysia won the Men's TPB9 Singles gold and Korea captured the Women's TPB9 Singles gold medals. Japan's Maeda Mitsuhiko, who rolled the championships one and only perfect game, bagged the Men's TPB10 Singles gold while Korea's Kim Su Yeong triumphed in the Women's division with the gold.
Hong Ka Lung, Chan Tat Chung and Cheung Hoi Tung with their gold medals
Competition shifted to the Team of 4 event, only for the TPB4 category where Australia's Tyler Allen, Ashley Poelstra, Matthew Hurst and Kallan Strong won their first gold medal of the championships. Malaysia and Singapore picked up the silver and bronze medals.
Hong Kong finished second in the Women's TPB4 Team event but did not win a medal as there were only two teams that competed. Australia's Dianne DeMello, Kate Jullerat, Courtney Bucknell and Amanda Threlfall won their second gold medal.
Again Hong Kong's Hong Ka Lung, Chan Tat Chung and Cheong Hoi Tung bounced back by winning the Men's TPB1+1/2 or 1+2/3 Trios gold with Chinese Taipei and Czech Republic taking home the silver and bronze medals. Hong Kong's women lost to Japan and did not win the silver as there were only two trios competing.
The championships ended on a high for Hong Kong as Wong Shun Leung, Wong Kwok Cheung and Chow Pui Kin emerged victorious by winning another gold medal in the Trios TPB8+9+10 category. Korea and Chinese Taipei settled for the silver and bronze medals. Korea women won the TPB8+9+10 Trios gold medal.
Hong Ka Lung won TPB1 All Events gold, Chan Tat Chung won the Men's TPB2 All Events gold, Cheung Hoi Tung won the Men's TPB3 All Events bronze and Chow Pui Kin picked up the All Events silver in the Men's TPB10 category. The women also made their contributions with Lau Hiu Chun winning the Women's TPB1 All Events gold.
Wong Kwok Cheung, Wong Chun Leung and Chow Pui Kin winning the Trios TPB8+9+10 gold medals
Chu Wing Kum of Hong Kong took the bronze medal in the Women's TPB3 All Events category. Hong Kong haul of 9 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals put them second in the overall medal tally. Korea emerged as champion with 12-11-7 medal haul. Japan finished third with a medal haul of 5-3-2.
A victory banquet, hosted by Hong Kong China Tenpin Bowling Congress was held at the Ballroom, Shangri-la Kwoloon attended by dignitaries, distinguished guests, team officials and participants. One hundred and nine men, forty-five women and 101 officials from eighteen countries and territories took part in the 2025 IBF Para World Championships from January 17 to 24, at Top Bowl, Kai Tak Sports Park, Kowloon.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong, China.