World title puts Ng in right frame of mind

Hong Kong's snooker squad finished with two gold medals, a silver and a bronze at the East Asian Games (EAG) - all won by the men. But things could have been different if newly crowned world champion Ng On-yee had been there. Sadly, she lost out in the selection process earlier this year.

Ng watched the action from the stands as top Hong Kong women's hopefuls Jacqui Ip Wan-in and Yu Ching-ching were both eliminated in the six-red snooker quarter-finals at the EAG. Ng, who won the women's world amateur championship in India last month, missed the chance to represent Hong Kong at the Games when she failed to attend squad practice.

The 19-year-old said she had no regrets about skipping the EAG and will concentrate on the Asian Games in Guangzhou next year. 'Winning the world title has greatly boosted my confidence. I'd like to win more tournaments in future,' she said.

Snooker has had a reputation for being dominated by men. Ng - the first local woman snooker world champion - said she fell in love with the game because of her father's influence.

'I used to hang out at my father's snooker centre when I was small. Gradually, I developed a strong interest and now it's my favourite sport,' she said.

Ng started formal training five years ago and turned professional in 2007. She had little international experience when she won the IBSF World Snooker Championships in Hyderabad, India last month.

People even called her the 'female Marco Fu Ka-chun'. But Ng is not happy with the nickname. 'Fu will always be my idol, but I am who I am.'

Ng said she might follow in Fu's footsteps one day and become a professional.

'I'm gathering information about professional tours. I'd like to give it a try when the time is right. I might go to the UK or US. I want to have more international exposure and compete with the top players in the world,' she said.