However, they could be demoted to Tier B next April because they have been dropped by the Asian Games for three consecutive editions at Incheon 2014, Jakarta 2018, and Hangzhou 2022.

“I felt my years of snooker had just begun,” said 31-year-old Ng, who claimed the season-ending Winchester Women’s Open title last weekend in Leicestershire and is still in the UK.

“This came as a surprise and total disappointment, especially after the recent announcement of the return of Billiard Sports in the 2030 Asian Games,” added the three-time world champion, who also won the Eden Women’s Masters last November.

“After years of investment in the sport, accomplishments in numerous ranking and world titles, I’d say we’ve slowly taken the sport ahead with a much bigger international presence for Hong Kong.

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“There has also been greater positive coverage from the media, and together with Marco’s [Fu Ka-chun] efforts in bringing the juniors in at the early stage it is definitely drawing more future talent into the sport.

“Such a destructive decision will definitely have an impact to the growing sport, and pose significant challenges for current players to compete.

“We’ve been through this particular topic in recent years. I will continue to work hard in the coming year to repay the support from all friends and family, coaches and HKSAR citizens.”

Ng, who has been a full-time elite athlete since 2010, became the first Asian woman to lead the women’s world rankings in early 2018. She won her first game on the mixed gender professional tour in February by defeating Chinese player Wu Yize 4-2 in the qualifying round of the Welsh Open.

Marco Fu Ka-chun, who has won three ranking tournaments in his career, also voiced his disappointment and sadness over a possible relegation to Tier B status.

“Having given more than 25 years to represent Hong Kong all over the world, I feel really sad for the sport and the talented young players that are coming up as the next generation of Hong Kong Billiard sport players,” Fu said.

“A dramatic reduction in support and funding for our sport would be hurting our youngest players the most, who would have fought for Asian Games medals for Hong Kong in 2030.”

The 44-year-old Fu, who returned to the world professional tour earlier this week after a two-year absence during the pandemic, stated he will work closely with the Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council and the community to lobby for maintaining Tier A status.

Wayne Griffiths, the head snooker coach at the Hong Kong Sports Institute since 2010, said he was “blindsided” about a possible downgrade, which came “out of the blue”.

“We would have hoped for some formal, face-to-face discussions on the future of the sport, and the drastic impact this decision will have on all our players and coaches,” Griffiths said.

“The announcement will set us back 12 years and will have a significant impact on billiard sports’ medal chances in future Games and world championships.”

Griffiths said some senior players have already approached him about walking away from the sport.

“After all the world class results and positive images we have brought to Hong Kong, this feels like a kick in the teeth for everyone involved in the sport,” he said.

“Our job as coaches and players remain the same, and we will continue to focus in the coming year on working hard and working smart to achieve the best results possible for ourselves, HKSI, the HKBSCC and Hong Kong,” Griffiths added.

A total of 39 elite cueists fall under the HKSI umbrella, including 13 Elite A full-time athletes who receive a monthly training grant of between HK$32,700 to HK$38,540.

Should billiard sports be downgraded to Tier B, they risk losing 75 to 80 per cent of their funding, which would amount to millions of dollars in total, while players will lose 50 to 60 per cent of their training grants, in addition to training and logistical support from the HKSI.

With billiard sports’ place at the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games yet to be finalised, HKBSCC chairman Vincent Law Wing-chung addressed a letter to the Home Affairs Bureau’s Sports Commission on Friday.

“I respectfully urge the Sports Commission to suspend the application of the revised EVSS [Elite Vote Support Scheme] to Billiard sports, or alternatively extend Billiards’ Elite A status, until March 31 2026 pending the final decision from the Organising Committee of the 2026 Asian Games,” he wrote.

According to the institute’s funding criteria, billiard sports must reach a 10-point benchmark through international success at junior and senior levels. Billiard sports achieved high marks ranging from 12.5 to 14.66 from 2015 to 2020.