Nineteen-year-old Angel Gomez of Coronado finished fourth in his section in the men’s singles category at the 2024 World Bowls Junior Indoor Championship.
Held from Dec. 2-8, the event took place at the Hong Kong Football Club in Causeway Bay, marking the first time the championship was hosted in Asia.
Representing the United States, Gomez also competed in the mixed pairs competition alongside 14-year-old Adilyn Zeino of San Francisco, where the duo placed fourth in their section after several close matches.
Hosted on the second floor of the Hong Kong Football Club, the event featured a striking yet subdued atmosphere in the six-rink indoor bowling green.
The bright blue carpet glowed under intense fluorescent lights, prompting some players, including Gomez, to wear hats indoors.
“It was a new experience for me,” Gomez said, laughing about the strict no-talking policy that created a hushed reverence for the precision required in lawn bowls.
The World Bowls Junior Indoor Championship, first commenced in 2005, is open to players under 25 from member countries worldwide. It has previously been held in Australia, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England.
This year’s event brought together 42 players from 21 countries, showcasing their bowling talent in men’s singles, women’s singles and mixed pairs competitions.
This was Gomez’s third appearance at the World Bowls Junior Indoor Championship. In 2022, he made history in Ireland as the first U.S. player to compete in the tournament and continued his journey in 2023 in Scotland.
In July, Gomez clinched his first international lawn bowling win in Canada.
Nine countries earned medals in the championship: Australia, Hong Kong China, Wales, the Philippines, Canada, Scotland, South Africa, Ireland and England.
