AT LEAST three South Africans will be hoping to be right on the ball at next month's World Games in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
AT LEAST three South Africans will be hoping to be right on the ball at next month's World Games in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
The three cue-sport experts will be part of a large local squad competing at the Games (July 16-26), held every four years. Jason Theron lines up for the 9 Ball discipline (the most popular version of pool sport), Apsra Panchoo is in the women's version of the same code and Francois Ellis will play snooker.
Cue sport manager Ishaunt Singh provided an update on their progress.
"Last month Francois lost in the semifinals of the African Snooker Championship. But he played very well throughout the six days of the tournament, qualifying first in his group and making consistent breaks of 50 and more.
"Last week Apsra played in the Ladies World 10 Ball Championship in Manila, Philippines. She became the first South African female player to pass the group stages into the KO stage."
Panchoo pocketed $1000 (R7730) for her efforts.
"She lost to the former world champion, Taipei's Lin Mei, 8-3. Allison Fischer, 15-times world champion and Apsra's opponent in the first round of the Games, also lost to Lin Mei."
Current African Champion Jason Theron is about to play the Qatar 9Ball Open. The field here is the same he will face at the World Games. He has not been beaten at home for almost two years and is the country's best chance of a medal, according to Singh.
All the games will have 16 competitors each. Snooker will be played as a race to three frames, pool a race to nine frames (women) and race to 11 frames (men). A straight knockout method is used. - Sapa
SA cues up for snooker Games
AT LEAST three South Africans will be hoping to be right on the ball at next month's World Games in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
AT LEAST three South Africans will be hoping to be right on the ball at next month's World Games in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
The three cue-sport experts will be part of a large local squad competing at the Games (July 16-26), held every four years. Jason Theron lines up for the 9 Ball discipline (the most popular version of pool sport), Apsra Panchoo is in the women's version of the same code and Francois Ellis will play snooker.
Cue sport manager Ishaunt Singh provided an update on their progress.
"Last month Francois lost in the semifinals of the African Snooker Championship. But he played very well throughout the six days of the tournament, qualifying first in his group and making consistent breaks of 50 and more.
"Last week Apsra played in the Ladies World 10 Ball Championship in Manila, Philippines. She became the first South African female player to pass the group stages into the KO stage."
Panchoo pocketed $1000 (R7730) for her efforts.
"She lost to the former world champion, Taipei's Lin Mei, 8-3. Allison Fischer, 15-times world champion and Apsra's opponent in the first round of the Games, also lost to Lin Mei."
Current African Champion Jason Theron is about to play the Qatar 9Ball Open. The field here is the same he will face at the World Games. He has not been beaten at home for almost two years and is the country's best chance of a medal, according to Singh.
All the games will have 16 competitors each. Snooker will be played as a race to three frames, pool a race to nine frames (women) and race to 11 frames (men). A straight knockout method is used. - Sapa