World-class events cue to polish up billiard's image<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
After a long period when it was mainly notable for its lack of
\nactivity, the Indonesian Billiards and Snooker Association
\n(Pobsi) has succeeded in getting the sport taken seriously in
\nrecent years.<\/p>\n
The effort to improve the image of the sport has included
\nholding international caliber events and winning gold medals at
\nboth the 2001 and 2003 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.<\/p>\n
Two world class events with leading players are scheduled for
\nnext month -- the San Miguel ESPN tour in Jakarta (April 1-April
\n3), and the A Mild Bali International Open (April 4-April 8).<\/p>\n
\"We are delighted that this year we could invite former world
\nchampions like Efren Reyes of the Philippines, Chao Fong Pang of
\nChinese Taipei and Mika Immonen of Finland to participate in the
\nBali International Open, which will offer a total prize of Rp 200
\nmillion (about US$22,000),\" Pobsi chairman Putera Astaman said on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, for the first time, ESPN has also entrusted us to
\nhost one of its billiard tour events this year.\"<\/p>\n
At the national level, a series of 13 events will be held,
\nincluding A Mild Billiard Cup 2005, A Mild Billiard National
\nChampionship, A Mild Billiard Students Competition, A Mild
\nBilliard Clubs Competition and A Mild Billiard Master.<\/p>\n
\"This means that we have improved the image of billiards from
\nonly a recreational sport to a sport with competitions and
\nachievements,\" Putera said.<\/p>\n
The Bali International Open would present a challenge to local
\nplayers to show they could compete at the highest levels of the
\ngame, he said.<\/p>\n
\"In previous years, Indonesian players could win the
\ntournament but their foreign opponents were not world class
\nplayers. This year, with top international players coming, I hope
\na local player could still win the tournament.\"<\/p>\n
Any local player who reached the final of the Bali event would
\nbe sent to participate in the World Cup, Putera said.<\/p>\n
Tournament director Ishwara Adi confirmed that 64 players from
\n17 countries, including China, Hong Kong, Brazil, the Philippines
\nand Australia, were confirmed for the Bali event.<\/p>\n
Top 10 nationally ranked players, members of the national
\ntraining program and a player from each of Pobsi's 10 provincial
\nchapters would also be given a chance to play in the tournament.<\/p>\n
\"The winner will get a prize of Rp 65 million, the runner up
\nRp 35 million and the third and fourth places Rp 15 million
\neach,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Bali International Open defending champion player Siaw Wieto
\nwas undaunted by the prospect of playing top foreign contenders.<\/p>\n
\"I am practicing normally as I'm used to meeting international
\nplayers,\" he said. \"The key is that I will try not to miss even
\nonce in shooting because then we would definitely lose against
\nthem.\"<\/p>\n
A Mild brand manager Ria Renny Christina said billiards was
\nset to move into a new phase in 2005 with top-notch international
\nplayers competing here.<\/p>\n
\"Last year, we successfully invited players like Efren Reyes,
\nAlex Pagulayan and Rico Diks to play in exhibitions. Their good
\nimpression about billiard at home have influenced other world
\nplayers to come here this year,\" she said.<\/p>",
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