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S. Korea's billiards team set to win gold at Asian Games

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-15 15:13

SEOUL - South Korean billiard players are ready to shine at the upcoming Guangzhou Asian Games, equipped with a more determined and focused attitude than ever, after having a few months of training period at the National Training Center, also known as the Taeneung Athletes' Village, for the first time.

Cha Yu-ram. [File photo]

South Korean national team coach Lee Jang-soo expressed his confidence that the players will excel in Asia's biggest sports event slated for Nov 12-27, 2010?in China, as intensive training at the national training center has produced commendable effects.

"We aim to win a total of three gold medals, one in carom and two in pool," Lee said.

Cha Yu-ram, a strong candidate to win South Korea's first gold in pool, will seek to redeem herself at the upcoming competition from her mediocre performance in the previous Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. She reached the quarterfinals in the eight-ball event but was eliminated in the second round in nine-ball competition.

The 23-year-old player has demonstrated strong growth since the last Asian Games. She won the gold for nine-ball at the 2008 Asian Indoor Games and earned the title at the 2010 World Women's Nine-Ball Open.

Cha was not afraid to reveal her thirst for gold medal. "We haven't earned a gold medal in pool, and I have an ambition to win gold," Cha said.