Young Hong Kong snooker player Poon Ching-chiu, 18, dies during training
- Teenager dies during a training session at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, shocking the local billiards and snooker fraternity
Promising Hong Kong snooker player Poon Ching-chiu has died after fainting during training at the Sports Institute on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old teenager passed out during a training session on Wednesday afternoon and was rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital where he was certified dead. The cause of death is not yet known.
His death was confirmed by the Sports Institute, who said in a statement on Wednesday night that it was “deeply shocked and saddened” to learn of the passing of the elite athlete.
“Ching Chiu was a promising young athlete. He became a HKSI Elite Scholarship Athlete in June 2019. His sudden passing away is a huge loss to billiard sports,” the statement read.
It continued: “The HKSI extends its deepest condolences to Ching-chiu’s family and we will render our full support at this difficult time. We are also offering counselling support to his teammates.”
