By Skola Sengi – EM TV, Port Moresby
Marcus Ng was awarded player of the year at the PNG Billiards and Snooker 2-14 Trophy Presentation last night in Port Moresby.
Ng took out the Port Moresby Snooker Open Championships, the Port Moresby Handicap Challenge Title and the Kavieng Open Title, and was a runner-up in the PNG Men’s Major Snooker Titles.
He is now part of the top-ranked snooker players in the country, joining the likes of Djong Fong.
In the Women’s Snooker Titles, Geua John once again dominated the tournament, taking out the title for another consecutive year, while Helen Samuel was awarded Best Female Snooker Player of the Year.
Although regarded as a recreational sport, snooker in the country has seen the emergence of young talents.
Seventeen-year-old Edward Lakai was awarded Best Junior Player in the Port Moresby Handicap Challenge and PNG Men’s Snooker Titles alongside Junior Player of the Year, Emmanuel Kapi.
For the first time since the inception of the code, Papua New Guinea was invited to send a referee to observe and officiate in the World Snooker Titles in India late last year.
Jonathan Cavanagh was among 40 referees that officiated at the World Titles, and was ranked 9th after 20 days of competition.
The PNGBSA is hoping to attract a younger base of talent to run its development programs.
But like many challenges all sports codes face, PNGBSA secured Pacific MMI, BSP and Digicel PNG to sponsor the respective men’s and women’s titles and the Handicap Challenge last year.
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