Sports

Sunday February 25, 2007

Billiards: Esther hopes to get green light for Taiwan training stint

PETALING JAYA: National billiard and pool player Esther Kwan is hoping she will get to go for a short training stint in Taiwan in her preparations for the Women's World 9-Ball Championship.

Esther will be competing together with teammate Suhana Dewi Sabtu in the world championship in Kaohsiung City in Taiwan from April 1-8.

“It will be very useful for us to have a training stint as well as a few friendly matches ahead of the world championship,” said Esther, who won a silver medal at the Doha Asian Games last December.

“We have asked the National Sports Council to approve the stint.

“We are still waiting for their approval. If it gets approved, we are expected to have a one-week stint in Taipeh and Kaohsiung before the world championship.

“We are also hoping that we will be able to extend our stay in Taiwan for at least a month after the world championship so we can have friendly matches with local professionals.”

It will be an uphill task for both Esther and Suhana in the world championship. Both have to go through the qualifying tournament.

Esther was a virtual unknown outside the cue sports fraternity before the Doha Asian Games last December.

But in Qatar, Esther, a Category B athlete created a major stir when she won a silver medal in the women's nine-ball pool event, losing in the final to former world champion Liu Sin of Taiwan.

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