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Nazvi Careem

The first person Ng On-yee wanted to call after becoming world champion was her father.
After all, he embraced her decision to quit school and pursue snooker 11 years ago. He chaperoned her to far-flung places such as Jordan and Egypt for tournaments, cooking congee and instant noodles in hotel rooms so she wouldn't starve.
Together they suffered stomach problems in India and together they worked towards an impossible dream that came true on April 22 when she become the first Asian woman to win the world championship. This title was as much his as it was hers.
So it was, that at 3am Hong Kong time, hours after Ng beat England's Emma Bonney 6-2 in the final, World Snooker Club manager Ng Yam-shui's phone rang.

WATCH: Snooker world champion Hong Kong's Zoe Ng On-yee on how it all got started 
"Dad, I won the tournament, I did it!" an excited On-yee squealed down the line from Leeds, England.
"Oh, that's great. I'm very happy," her father replied rather groggily. "Errr, what tournament was this?"
"I nearly fainted," said On-yee. "Of all the tournaments ... but it was three in the morning, so maybe he wasn't fully aware of what was happening. He must have had a late night at the snooker club."
Her father may have missed the moment, but the snooker world certainly took notice.
In the semi-final, Ng caused one of the biggest shocks in the game's history when she defeated England's Reanne Evans, ending her 10-year reign as world snooker queen.

The 24-year-old then went on to beat Bonney in the final, allowing her to become the first athlete to take the trophy out of the UK in the event's 35-year history.
She became Hong Kong's new golden girl, joining that rare breed of athletes, such as 1996 windsurfing Olympic gold medallist Lee Lai-shan and 2012 cycling Olympic bronze medallist Sarah Lee Wai-sze.
Not bad for a youngster with a waif-like build who grew up in Tai Po. Her father supported the family as a truck driver, then a taxi driver and finally, as a manager of a snooker club.
Her mother worked as a waitress at a cafe and a seamstress for a garment factory before joining her father in the snooker-hall business.
I fell in love with the uniform. if I could wear the same thing I could be special. So, I asked him to teach me how to play and he was delighted
Ng On-yee
She has two older sisters and an older brother, Ng Chun-nam, who is also a competent snooker player; all six still live together in a 500-square-foot family flat in Sheung Wan.
As the reality of her victory sunk in, her father remained stoic outwardly, though inside she knew he was beaming with pride. He had seen her development since she took up the sport at 13 and, despite his significant input towards her success, he was happy to remain in the background.
"Actually, even after he realised what I had achieved, he never said anything," said Ng, displaying a wide smile under her "Dennis Taylor" upside-down spectacles.
"But he looks happy. In fact, some reporters called me and told me that my father was looking very happy. He told them that I had improved a lot but he never said that to me."
Indeed, Ng's relationship with her father is integral to her success on the baize. Her interest in snooker stirred after watching him play at a local tournament. However, it wasn't Yam-shui's cue skills that caught her eye, it was the smart tuxedo and bow-tie.
"Yes, it was the uniform," said Ng. "When I was 13, I didn't like studying and I spent most of my time on the computer and playing online games.
"Then one day my father took me with him. I saw him at this competition and I fell in love with the uniform," said Ng, tugging at the lapel of her vest.
"I thought if I could wear the same thing I could be special. So, I asked him to teach me how to play and he was delighted and very happy."

It was not until she was 16 that she was first able to don the outfit when she travelled to Jordan for her first overseas tournament.
And while the costume made her feel special, it was her natural snooker skills that truly made her stand out.
In 2009, she became world amateur champion by winning the IBSF World Championship. The following year, Ng won a gold medal at the Guangzhou Asian Games in the women's six-red team. She also took bronze in the singles.
She repeated her amateur world title in December 2010, beating another rising Hong Kong star, Jaique Ip Wan-in, in the final. Ng and Ip went on to become two of the most feared women's players on the circuit in the UK.
Despite her achievements, Ng says there is still much to learn.
"Winning the world title will not change my life," said Ng, who became a full-time athlete at the Hong Kong Sports Institute in 2010. "There is still a long way to go.
"I never actually realised I was good enough to win these tournaments but I just enjoyed the game. As a full-time athlete, I regularly train at the SI with world-class facilities. I have a strong coaching team and take part in as many competitions as possible. Everything just comes naturally."
Apart from her father, Ng is coached by Wayne Griffiths, son of Welshman Terry Griffiths, one of the world's top players in the 1980s. Ng says she is indebted to the SI, saying the support she receives is unmatched by even the top British players.
"With the experience of talking and meeting with opponents around the world, I realise that the support I get in Hong Kong is not only more than enough but also the best," she said.
On-yee's self-belief and work ethic, added to her considerable talent, make her one of the best female snooker players in the world
Wayne Griffiths
"From the monthly allowances to the equipment and facilities, it is world class. It is better than England. The others don't have so much allowance as we do," said Ng, who receives HK$25,000 a month from the SI.
"Our facilities are very good. We have 24-hour video equipment available when training. After I play a shot, I ask my coach a question and we simply click on the video and discuss the shot.
"Hong Kong is better than many places."
While Ng is coy about her status on the global stage, Griffiths has no doubt.

"On-yee's self-belief and work ethic, added to her considerable talent, make her one of the best female snooker players in the world," he said.
"To win both the WLBSA and IBSF versions of the world championships ensures she will join a list of the greatest female players in our sport's history - and she is only 24.
"We are also lucky to have great coaches like Alan Wong and former under-21 world champion Chan Kwok-ming working as part of our team at the Sports Institute to guide our talented athletes."
For Ng, her goals are to win more tournaments and help to raise the profile of women's snooker as well as promote the sport in Hong Kong.
"After I won the title, I had a couple of interviews with the BBC and other local channels," she said.
"I can definitely sense the difference before I won it. I was very busy after the tournament and I really hope this will bring more attention to ladies snooker."


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Ng On-yee

Why becoming world champion won't change Hong Kong's newest golden girl Ng On-yee

Tai Po native Ng On-yee, 24, joins the club of golden girls - windsurfer Lee Lai-shan and Sarah Lee - in having won gold for Hong Kong. Photos: Nora Tam

Ng On-yee has given women's snooker a high profile. 

Ng On-yee is all smiles back home with her trophy after victory in the 2015 Ladies World Snooker Championship in Leeds in May. 

Ng On-yee's hard work and dedication to her sport has finally been all worth the effort. 

Hong Kong's Ng On-yee is new world champion in women's snooker

Ng On-yee proudly displays her trophy while carrying the Hong Kong flag after her victory in the women's snooker world championship final. Photos: SCMP Pictures

Ng On-yee lifts the trophy after winning the final 6-2 against Emma Bonney.

Ng On-yee celebrates her victory.

Hong Kong world snooker champion Ng On-yee to play in men’s world championship at Crucible

Interview with Hong Kong snooker player Ng On-yee on her victory at the 2015 Ladies World Snooker Championship in Leeds. 07MAY15

Women's world champion Ng On-yee(picture) play against snooker world champion Stuart Bingham from England in the "Clash of World Champions" at Ivan Snooker in Mong Kok. 25JUN15

Hong Kong’s Ng On-yee with the world championship trophy she won in Leeds. Photo: Nora Tam

Sport

Hong Kong

The 24-year-old snooker star joins the likes of windsurfer Lee Lai-shan and cyclist Sarah Lee after stunning victory over world's best


The first person Ng On-yee wanted to call after becoming world champion was her father. After all, he embraced her decision to quit school and pursue snooker 11 years ago. He chaperoned her to far-flung places such as Jordan and Egypt for tournaments, cooking congee and instant noodles in hotel rooms so she wouldn't starve.


Why becoming world champion won't change Hong Kong's newest golden girl Ng On-yee

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The 24-year-old snooker star joins the likes of windsurfer Lee Lai-shan and cyclist Sarah Lee after stunning victory over world's best

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}WATCH: Snooker world champion Hong Kong's Zoe Ng On-yee on how it all got started

The 24-year-old snooker star joins the likes of windsurfer Lee Lai-shan and cyclist Sarah Lee after stunning victory over world's best

WATCH: Snooker world champion Hong Kong's Zoe Ng On-yee on how it all got started