Billiards: Ex-team mates back world pool champion's move to Singapore
By Tan Yo-Hinn, TODAY | Posted: 20 April 2009 0632 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Top Taiwan-born pool ace Wu Chia Ching's recent decision to take up permanent residence status in Singapore caused an uproar in his homeland, incurring the ire of the Taiwan Pool and Billiards Association.

Nicknamed the "Little Genius" after becoming the youngest nine-ball world pool champion at 15 years and five months in 2005, Wu had expressed unhappiness over Taiwan's treatment of top sportsmen, complaining about the lack of financial security.

He has a sympathiser in Taiwan's two-time Asian Games nine-ball gold medallist Yang Ching Sun.

"Singapore respects and makes the effort to nurture its athletes. I think he made the right decision. It is good that Singapore does this," said Yang, 30, at an exhibition match at Raffles City Shopping Centre on Sunday to promote the upcoming 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung.

"If you want to bring the best out of an athlete, there must be some form of safety net for him, or her. If there is some financial difficulty, it is difficult to go out and give everything to perform. You can't blame the athlete."

The 20-year-old Wu received his blue identity card last month and it is believed Cuesports Singapore had offered him a monthly salary of NT$50,000/nearly US$1,500/S$2,220.

The national sports association will also bear his travelling expenses for overseas competitions.

Taiwanese players don't receive a monthly salary or have their travel expenses covered.

Wu, the current world No 7, will not be able to compete for Singapore at major competitions like the SEA Games and the Asian Games because under rules set by the Olympic Council of Asia, athletes cannot play for another country until three years after switching citizenship.

Confusion reigns over his eligibility for the upcoming World Championships and other ranking events sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association.

The dates for the world championship have not been confirmed.

Cuesports Singapore say their newest recruit should be allowed to compete, but Taiwan officials argue that the rules prohibit him from doing so because he is only a permanent resident.

Taiwan's current women's No. 1 Cherrie Chang, who was also present at Sunday's event, said: "It's his decision to play for Singapore and I can only wish him all the best."

Also present at the event were top local players Bernard Tey and Charlene Chai.

Meanwhile, Yang, who is regarded as a future world champion, is looking forward to competing at the World Games, which will be held in his hometown of Kaohsiung from July 16-26.

Regarded as the biggest multi-sport event after the Olympics, the World Games features sports that are not on the Olympic roster.

This year's Games, the eighth since its inception in 1981 in Santa Clara, California, will feature about 5,000 athletes from nearly 100 countries in 30 sports, including bowling, billiards, sumo wrestling, wushu and dragon boating.

"This Games is extra special for me because it will be in my hometown, which is extra incentive for me to make it a hat-trick of titles for Taiwan in pool," said Yang.

Singapore will take part in bowling, tchoukball, wushu and wakeboarding, where No. 1 female wakeboarder Sasha Christian will take centre stage. - TODAY