athlete of the week
Name Rickle Kam Siu-lun
Sport Bowling
Achievements Kam, 22, has won three titles - the 2004 Hong Kong International Open Youth Masters, the 2006 Asian Schools Tenpin Bowling Championships and the Youth Boys Open Masters crown at the 42th Singapore International Open Tenpin Bowling Championships this year. He is also a member of the Hong Kong junior bowling team.
Soundbite 'I first started bowling when I was 11 years old. I became very interested in the sport and attended training courses and represented the school's bowling club,' Kam said.
'The major turning point of my career came when I joined the Searching for New Sports Stars programme organised by the Hong Kong Sports Institute.
'I was 17 years old at the time. About a year later, coaches from the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress recommended me to the Hong Kong junior team. After finishing Form Five, I joined the Yijin Project and worked for a year as a teaching assistant before becoming a full-time athlete at the age of 19.
'At first, my family did not support my decision and I was worried I would not be able to make a living. But I felt I was still young, and even if things didn't work out, I could find another job.
'Now with the subsidies for elite athletes from the Sports Institute and income from being a bowling coach, I am doing fine.'
From his coach 'Kam has very powerful strikes. He is very focused and hardworking at practice,' said Purvis Granger, coach of the Hong Kong junior squad.
'At 22, he has a great future as long as he continues to work hard. He is gaining confidence, but he needs to be stronger mentally.
'Now he is practising with the top players in Hong Kong and this will help improve his performance.'
Ambition 'I hope to participate in world masters tournaments and move up to the top 10 in Asia's rankings,' Kam said.