RI may have a chance in billiard

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's chances of winning medals at the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in September have been diminished as the organizers have decided to scrap the three-ball event, which is Indonesia's gold mine, from the list.

"We really regret the organizers' decision to not include three-ball although we have tried to persuade them," said Indonesian Billiard and Snooker Association (POBSI) secretary- general A. Ramlan P. on Thursday, as quoted by Antara.

In the 1997 Games in Jakarta, host Indonesia managed to win four golds in three-ball but in the 1999 Games in Brunei Darussalam it failed to earn any as the event was excluded.

Ramlan also regretted the new regulation allowing professional players to compete in the Games.

As for the Games, POBSI has selected 10 out of 22 players. They comprise four for the pool event, three for billiard and three for snooker.

Ramlan estimated Indonesia would only be able to win a gold in the pool event. (yan)