Billiards players in Nghe An have to compete for professional teams in other provinces.

(Baonghean.vn) – The top players in Nghe An often do not have the opportunity to compete for the colors of their home province but have to join other teams in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

In Nghe An, the number of people playing Billiards is not small. However, this sport, which is included in the annual SEA Games, is developing quite spontaneously and incorrectly.

Billiard player Nguyen Huu Ky, a leader in the Nghe An - Ha Tinh region, has many concerns about the future of this sport in his hometown. Photo: Trung Kien.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Ky, considered the eldest brother of Billiards in Nghe An, has been a pioneer in the effort to develop the sport professionally in the past 5 years. He has participated in many domestic and international tournaments and achieved certain achievements on a national scale.

Mr. Ky confided: “I feel very sorry for Billiards Nghe An, because I know we have many talented players. But they do not have the opportunity to develop professionally. Many people think that this is a negative sport, more about gambling than sports, we are very sad about this.

Even some people who are talented in playing this sport do not have the right awareness to invest more in their passion.”

Every year, he and the Billiards Clubs of Nghe An and Ha Tinh regularly organize amateur tournaments to maintain the players' form. Although it is an amateur tournament, it brings together all the excellent players from Nghe An and Ha Tinh.

Even the head coach of the Vietnam Billiards National Team - Nguyen Thanh Nam and many of Vietnam's top players such as Do The Kien, Dang Thanh Kien, Nguyen Anh Tuan have come to test the players from Nghe An and have acknowledged the abilities of the Billiards players.

The organizers awarded prizes to the best players. Photo: Trung Kien.

“Previously, Nghe An was almost unknown on the map of Vietnamese Billiards and not known by many people, but thanks to the passionate efforts and dedication of the players over the past 4-5 years, Nghe An Billiards has become widely known in the national Billiards community.

And our players have also achieved certain achievements such as athlete Nguyen Huu Binh who won 3rd prize in the national "Pool 8 Ball" in 2014, Le Ngoc Tuan who won 3rd prize in the national "Pool 9 ball" in 2016, Nguyen Huu Ky who won 3rd prize in the "Pool 10 ball" in 2015 or young talent Le Anh Xuan who also has many high achievements in and outside the province.

“It’s just that we haven’t formed a team yet. I and player Nguyen Huu Binh have to play for Hanoi, while Anh Xuan and Ngoc Tuan play for Ho Chi Minh City. It’s sad that this sport hasn’t received the attention it deserves, but what can we do…

When there is a team, I believe the ability to develop this sport in Nghe An will be different. Players will also practice professionally and with more awareness instead of just for entertainment like now" - Mr. Ky pondered.

And every time a grassroots tournament like the Nghe An - Ha Tinh Open 'Billiards Pool 9 Ball' tournament just ended, player Nguyen Huu Ky looks forward to the day Nghe An participates in a Sports Congress or has athletes participate in the National Championship...

Trung Kien