Laid back Mak: Hong Kong’s top bowler cool as a cucumber during Million Tinkle World Men Championship
- The 24-year-old is competing at the Million Tinkle World Men Championships
- Mak has a goal of winning a world championship in singles one day
Michael Mak Cheuk-yin doesn’t look or act like your typical ten-pin bowler.
He’s tall, thin and has a head of shaggy black hair with a laid-back sense to his walk, talk and demeanour. Sometimes he sports black-rimmed glasses, and his bowling shirt is rarely tucked in.
After his round, he casually wraps himself in a Fila sports jacket and looks more suited for the video game arcade or hanging out with friends at the movie theatre. But as the bowling community knows, this is just Mak.
“The best thing about him is he doesn’t try to be someone he’s not,” said his coach, Bill Hoffman, whose been working with Mak since he was 16. “He’s just Michael. He’s just who he is.”
Mak had an off day on Wednesday at the Million Tinkle World Men Championships, held at the SCAA Bowling Centre in Causeway Bay until December 5, but in typical Mak fashion, he isn’t losing his cool.
Luckily he finishes off his doubles game with partner Wu Siu-hong with two strikes and a spare to salvage his round, noting he started the day on the wrong foot.
“I didn’t sleep that well last night,” said the 24-year-old. “I got up at 3am and couldn’t fall back asleep.”