Bowling puts players with disabilities on a roll

“Many people ask how bowling can be considered a sport when all you do is rolling a ball,” says Kelvin Kwok, Senior Physiotherapist at Caritas Medical Centre, who has played the game for 30 years. He then explains the intricate skills the sport demands: Striking pins with a bowling ball over 10 pounds takes not only physical prowess but also mental acuity. The player must quickly calculate the ball’s angle and their techniques, as well as observing lane conditions and the effect of lighting to achieve a perfect strike. Being a healthy leisure activity, bowling also gives people with disabilities a second life.

Kelvin has won numerous titles since he began competing in 1997, claiming individual championships six times in the Hospital Authority (HA) Bowling Competition since 2006 and organising a host of HA and Kowloon West Cluster bowling events. Although bowling is not the most popular sport among HA staff, it has a group of enthusiastic loyal supporters. Kelvin encourages his colleagues to join in now as the epidemic was over and large-scale sporting events are back. “Bowling gives you the chance to enjoy sport in an air-conditioned environment,” he says. “It is not restricted by height, weight, or body shape. Beginners can experience a sense of achievement and, as long as you have the passion, you can continue winning competitions even at the age of 70!”

Being a coach to discover athletes with disabilities

Kelvin treats the promotion of bowling as a lifelong mission and is a volunteer at the Sports Association for the Physically Disabled of Hong Kong, China where he helps assess the disability levels of athletes. Bowling competitions for disabled athletes began two decades ago and Kelvin obtained a coaching license and travelled overseas to meet with the representatives from other regions to arrange tournaments. He has accompanied disabled athletes to a variety of international events, including the Asian Para Games in Jakarta and competitions in Southeast Asia and Australia, etc.

Kelvin’s role as a physiotherapist gives him a deeper understanding of disabled athletes and their capabilities. “My work involves following up with injured or disabled patients and assisting them in their daily rehabilitation, so I understand their physical and mental needs very well,” he explains. “In fact, many current athletes were once my patients.” He believes young patients can get their appetite for life back by sport.

“Many colleagues refer potential patients to me, and I encourage them by telling them an injury does not have to define their entire life. They can try participating in sports training – not just bowling but any sports.”

Kelvin’s most treasured memories are of former patients, once despondent over their disabilities, receiving medals on podiums and enjoying the applause of spectators. “If a ball goes wide in bowling, you can try again in the next game and play better, and the same is true of life,” Kelvin reflects. “I often use this analogy to encourage my patients, and it helps drive my passion for bowling.”