Hong Kong snooker world champion Ng On-yee could be nominated for prestigious BBC sport award
Double snooker world champion could be among six names on shortlist who will be in running to win Overseas Sports Personality of the Year
Double snooker world champion Ng On-yee stands a chance to become the first athlete from Hong Kong to contest the prestigious Overseas Sports Personality of the Year, presented by the BBC in the United Kingdom.
On the eve of the six shortlisted candidates being announced for the award, the Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council said Ng had been invited to the presentation on December 20 as a VIP guest.
“The candidates’ list won’t be announced until tomorrow and all we can say at this moment is Ng has been invited to the presentation,” said the council’s senior sports executive Lena Lee Ling.
We can’t confirm anything yet, but being invited to the presentation should mean something
“Of course, we hope she can become one of the candidates who will be a great honour not only for Ng, and snooker but Hong Kong sport as a whole.
“We can’t confirm anything yet, but being invited to the presentation should mean something.”
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A list of six candidates will be disclosed by the BBC, so the public can vote online until December 11. The winner will then be revealed before BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015, live from Belfast’s SSE Arena on December 20.
WATCH: Ng On-yee talk about her start in snooker
The award recognises the overseas athlete who has made the most substantial contribution to sport, the BBC sports website said.
A scholarship athlete at the Hong Kong Sports Institute in Fo Tan, Ng took the women’s snooker world by storm this year by clinching two major world titles.
WATCH: Ng On-yee in a face-off against reigning men's world champion Stuart Bingham in May
At the WLBSA 2015 World Ladies Championships in Leeds, England, Ng defeated Emma Bonney of England 6-2 in the final for the trophy.
Evans had been unbeaten in the world event 10 times between 2005 and 2014 before her defeat to Ng.
The 25-year-old also lifted the individual title of the IBSF 6 reds and team snooker championships in Karachi, Pakistan, when she defeated Vidya Pillai of India 5-2 in a one-sided final.
Lee said although women’s snooker did not enjoy as a high profile as many other professional sports, Ng’s double victory contributed a lot.
“There was a lot of coverage of Ng in England when she won the world title in April and her achievements have also seen our regional body be chosen as hosts of the Asian Championships next year,” said Lee.
There was a lot of coverage of Ng in England when she won the world title in April
“If we take that into consideration, we have every reason that Ng should be considered one of the candidates.”
The BBC Overseas Sports Personality award has honoured many athletes including Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt and 14-time grand slam winner Rafael Nadal of Spain. The 2014 winner was soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid.
Even if Ng is nominated, Hong Kong people will not be able cast their ballots for her as votes outside of Britain are not accepted.
Keeping the award open to a UK audience ensures the winner remains a decision of those based in Britain rather than internationally. This is consistent with the other sports personality awards, the BBC sports website said.
