Billiard

Nguyễn Hoàng Yến Nhi of Việt Nam in action at the 12th World Championship Ladies 3-Cushion in Blois, France. She takes home a bronze medal. Photo of organisers

HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Hoàng Yến Nhi has brought Việt Nam's first ever world championship billiard medal after her third finish at the 12th World Championship Ladies 3-Cushion in Blois, France.

Yến was one of two Vietnamese representatives at the September 10-12 tournament. While teammate Phùng Kiện Tường was disqualified from the last-eight round, Nhi made semi-finals after beating Jackeline Perez of Peru in the quarter-finals.

A win over Perez was considered Nhi's best match in career as she was led 8-18 and 20-29 before coming back to win 30-29 and advanced to the medal round.

Facing strong Charlotte Sorensen of Denmark in the semis, Nhi showed her remarkable effort but failed to catch up with Sorensen's pace. She lost 15-30, sharing bronze and with Karina Jetten of the Netherlands and bagged a bonus of US$4,400 in her third world championship.

Sorensen, 41, a rising star in recent years, grabbed the world title beating Therese Klompenhouwer from the Netherlands in the thriller that came on a score of 29-29 and after three match balls.

"I am very happy with the bronze which is a target that I set prior to the championship," said world No 9 Nhi.

"It will be a motivation for me in the later career. I still made many mistakes here but I will practise harder and play better every day." VNS