A player competes during a match. [Photo/WeChat account: XS_HEDA]

The 2025 Tin Ding Sin Cup China Lawn Bowls Open kicked off on Dec 25 in Qiantang district, Hangzhou, bringing together more than 100 athletes from 23 teams representing seven countries and regions, including China, South Korea, Australia and Malaysia.

Despite winter temperatures, the competition was intense, with players showcasing precision, patience, and strategy on the green lawns.

Originating in the United Kingdom, lawn bowls combines competitive sport with leisure and has experienced a growing following in China, particularly in the Yangtze River Delta region.

"The players look calm on the surface, but every shot is a mental and technical contest," said Yu Zixi, a high school student from Hangzhou Wenhui School and one of the competitors.

Unlike standard balls, lawn bowls are asymmetrical, causing them to travel in curved paths toward the target, adding tactical depth to each play.

A player competes during a match. [Photo/WeChat account: XS_HEDA]

The event is being held at Wenhui School's lawn bowls venue, a former competition site for the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou in 2023 and the first such venue adapted from a school campus in the event's history. The facility features two international-standard 40-by-40-meter outdoor greens.

International participants praised both the venue and organization. "The facilities exceeded our expectations," said Steve Wilson from Australia, noting Hangzhou's scenic beauty and welcoming atmosphere.

Organizers said the tournament is one of China's most important international lawn bowls events in 2025 and will further promote the sport's development and international exchange, while adding momentum to Hangzhou's growing profile as a global sports city.

The bowls are asymmetrical. [Photo/WeChat account: XS_HEDA]