Women players want to go international

Women players want to go international

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Kuta, Bali

Mutiara Sasini Bunga and Sadra Q had no choice but to take on
male opponents in qualifying for the A Mild Billiard Bali
International Open.

Sadra, who was defeated on Tuesday, said she was accustomed to
losing to men's players in her tournament outings.

They were joined by 10 other women from here and abroad in the
qualifying among 104 men's players. Two women -- national player
Desak Raka and Angelina Magdalena Ticoalu -- advanced to the main
draw by beating other women.

They were pleased to have a chance to compete in such a
prestigious event, but also wished there were women-only
international competitions held here.

"It's always good for us to play against male players as we
have the chance to improve our skills," Mutiara, who is also the
national coach for the 2005 Southeast Games, said.

"But it would be better if Indonesia could hold an
international tournament for women's players so that foreign
women's players could also compete here."

Although there are about 10 national women's tournaments every
year, the number is much lower than the 48 men's events.

She added that women, limited to playing a few tournaments a
year, were unlikely to overcome more experienced men in
competition.

"The play of women's players is still of a lower standard than
men's players, so if we play in the men's division, it is almost
impossible to win the tournament."

Desak and Sadra concurred with Mutiara about the need for more
world-class tournaments exclusively for women that would allow
them to hone their skills.

Billiards, bowling, chess and golf are among the few sports to
allow the sexes to compete against each other. The Asian Bowling
Federation (ABF) occasionally holds a competition featuring men's
and women's players in one draw, but most tournaments are single
sex.

It's only in the past few years that women players have been
able to overcome the entrenched stereotype of the smoky pool hall
as the domain of men.

Mutiara, one of those pioneers, is doing her best to push
through the realization of women-only international tournaments.

"I made a proposal to the organizing committee two years ago
but it rejected my proposal, saying that such an event wouldn't
attract spectators," Mutiara said. "But I will propose the idea
again this year."

Sadra said that it was necessary for women players to improve
their skills.

"As far as I know, women players still lack experience,"
Sadra, who started playing seven years ago, said.

"Besides, the number of women players of a high standard is
still limited. For example, in Bali there are only about five
good players."

Mutiara agreed that a greater pool of women's players would
lead to a higher standard of play. And once women come up to par
in the quality stakes -- including through playing more women's
events -- it will do away with the argument that the women's game
does not make interesting viewing.