Anrian Asyarani Khabini and Puteri Annissa Sofea will lead the Malaysian challenge at the World Bowls Junior Indoor Championships.
Twenty-three nations will compete at the 27th edition of the event hosted by the Lawn Bowls Association of Hong Kong, China, at the iconic Hong Kong Football Club from November 30-December 6.
It’s the second time in three years the event has been held at the Hong Kong Football Club.
Both Anrian and Puteri were gold medallist at the this years Malaysian national games (SUKMA) with the Anrian winning the men’s singles while Puteri was part of the women’s trio.
Apart from Malaysia the other ASEAN countries confirmed for the championships are Singapore and the Philippines.
Singapore’s representatives are Elan Hooi Sing Yew and Estee Lee Chia Syn while the Philippines will be spearheaded by Hermie Dogwin and Angeleca Abataya.
Countries competing in the competition for the first time are Hungary and Botswana.
Co-sanctioned by World Bowls and the International Indoor Bowls Council (IIBC), the World Bowls Junior Indoor Championship is open to players Under 25 years of age from all the members countries/regions around the world.
Twenty-four males and 21 females will go head-to-head across an intense week of sectional play and knockout finals in three core categories: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, and Mixed Pairs.
Seven countries won medals at the 2025 championship held at the Jim Baker Stadium, home to County Antrim IBC, Northern Ireland.
New Zealand was the best performing nation with a clutch of gold, silver and bronze medals.
Included in the line-up is 2026 Commonwealth Games women’s pairs bronze medallist Chloe Wilson, Ireland’s national champion, who headlines the female line-up, along with Norfolk Island’s Ellie Dixon who with partner Petal Jones helped to deliver their nation’s strongest Games campaign to date, finishing second in their section of the women’s pairs.
Defending mixed pairs champions – Briar Atkinson and Camron Horo – will be representing New Zealand for the second year running and looking to successfully retain their title which was the first junior world title for the Blackjacks in the history of the championship. Briar was runner-up in the women’s singles 12 months ago and will have her sights set on a gold medal this time around, while Horo will also be aiming to swap his was a bronze medallist in the men’s singles.
Another former medallist in the mix is Angeleca Abatayo, of The Philippines, a silver medallist in the women’s singles when the event was last held in Hong Kong.
England’s Charlie Beeton holds a unique record going into the competition – he won the Bowls England and British Bowls Under 25 titles, plus the English Indoor Bowling Association and British Isles Bowls Council Under 25 singles all at the same time, while Wales’ Olivia Jackson holds both indoor and outdoor titles too.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Chanel Chakouch comes to the event after finishing fourth in the Australian Champion of Champions and will be fresh from representing the Jackaroos in the Oceania Challenge.
Hosting nation hopes lie with Desmond Lai, who shot to fame when he qualified for the World Indoor Bowls Championships two years ago and Abbie Chan, a bronze medalist in 2025 and Alex Lee and Emmy Luk.
