Ding leads China Open campaign By Yu Yilei (China Daily) Updated: 2006-02-24 05:58
China's snooker prodigy Ding Junhui will return to defend his China Open
title next month and is expected to ignite another round of snooker frenzy for
this popular sport.
However, World Snooker, the sport's governing body said Ding, last year's
surprise winner, was not their sole focus.
"We are not 100 per cent focused on Ding, we are interested in the Chinese
market and would like to see more Chinese playing in the game," said Simon
Leach, China tournament director of World Snooker.
The eighteen-year old Ding landed a historic victory at the 2005 China Open
by trumping Stephen Hendry of Scotland 9-5 in the final. The victory made Ding
the first ever Chinese player to win a Main Tour title and the second youngest
title holder in snooker history, just nine days older than Ronnie O'Sullivan
when he won the 1993 UK Championship.
His other major success includes a UK Championship title at the end of last
year. He is seen as one of the most promising players in the tour.
"Certainly, Ding is very big and we will use his image to popularize snooker
in China.
"But I believe there are more talents in the country because the sport has a
certain popularity here," Leach said.
Defending champion Ding enters as the top-seed player, a far cry from last
year when he entered as a wild card. He will be joined by eight Chinese wild
cards in the tournament running from March 20-26 at the Beijing University
Students Stadium.
Leach further confirmed that last year's absentee, world
No 1 O'Sullivan, would come to China this time, making Ding's chances of
repeating last year's glory that much more difficult.
|