Ken Wallis, Hong Kong’s last-ever Commonwealth Games medal winner, recalls Victoria 1994

The former policeman, who also played soccer for Hong Kong, chats about the events that led to his bronze in the men’s singles lawn bowls tournament

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Ken Wallis is Hong Kong’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremony of their last Commonwealth Games in 1994 in Victoria, Canada. Photo: Robert Ng

Published: 10:15am, 3 Apr 2018Updated: 10:50am, 3 Apr 2018

Ken Wallis went into the 1994 Commonwealth Games with a heavy burden on his shoulders. He was practically a pariah within the Hong Kong lawn bowls camp, shunned by many teammates who felt he didn’t deserve to play singles and ridiculed by overseas rivals.

The former Hong Kong soccer player was national champion but many felt he used his position as president of the Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association to gain the coveted singles spot on the squad for the Games in Victoria, Canada.

At the end of the Games, it was Wallis who earned the right to gloat. Finishing second in his group behind Scotland’s eventual gold medallist Richard Corsie, Wallis guaranteed himself a bronze and thus became Hong Kong’s last-ever medal winner at the Commonwealth Games.

Ken Wallis at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Photo: Robert Ng

In three years time, Hong Kong’s sovereignty was to return to China and, no longer a British colony, mainland officials ruled that local athletes were ineligible for the Commonwealth Games. This week’s Games in the Gold Coast, Australia will be the sixth without Hong Kong, and Wallis’ memories of Victoria remain vivid.

When asked about the difficulties he faced in the lead-up to the Games, Wallis said: “I assume you are referring to selection. There was always strong debate over selection for any competition, and these Games were no exception.