SA billiards trio chalk up for Games
15 July 2005
A trio of South Africans will be going up against the world's most established billiards champions at the 2005 World Games, a unique international event featuring non-Olympic sports.
The 2005 World Games, the seventh since the inception of the Games in 1981, is being held in the four German cities of Duisburg, Bottrop, Oberhausen and Mülheim from 14 to 24 July.
The country's best medal hope probably lies in Durban's Yulan Govendor, who is playing in the 9-ball pool event. He is currently ranked 53rd in the world - compared to snooker legend Steve Davis' ranking of 90 - and team manager Ishaun Singh is quietly confident that his charge will spring a few surprises.
Also playing 9-ball pool is Aspara Panchoo, who will go head-to-head with American Jeanette
Lee in the women's competition. Lee, known as the "Black Widow" and arguably pool's most recognisable player, will be defending her title from the 2001 World Games in Akita against some tough competition.
"Aspara is unranked because she has only played one international event, but she was a top 8-ball pool player," said Singh. "If she can bring that experience to the table in Germany, she will do well."
South Africa's top-ranked snooker player, Cape Town's Mutalieb Allie, will have to draw on all his experience gained as a professional in England in the nineties to make any impression against China's Ding Junhui, the teenage sensation of snooker's main professional tour, as well as established champions like Hanveer from Belgium.
Allie's confidence is high after making eight century breaks in the recent SA Championships, where he was named player of the tournament, despite losing in the semi-finals to David Anderson.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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