3-Cushion
SINOP - Will she be able to become the world's best one again, the experienced Japanese Orie Hida, who is already winner of three world titles in three cushion for ladies? And what can we expect from the title holder Natsumi Higashiuchi, also from Japan, after two years in which she didn't show her high class to the world.
There are so many questions now, in the days before the World championships in Turkish Sinop will start off and where Dutch star player Therese Klompenhouwer is the towering favorite based on her current form.
The players arrived one by one in the Turkish city these days. Karina Jetten, the Dutch number two, without her suitcase. Natsumi Higashiuchi came from Paris, her birthplace and Therese Klompenhouwer already sent a couple of nice pictures with the view from her hotel.
Ready for the start of the World championship, which starts on Friday and will be broadcast by Kozoom, free for all members.
The ladies World championship was not played every year, but always when there was an organizer, the Japanese players dominated the podium. Orie Hida won three times: in Valence in 2004 (0.719 average), in Hoensbroek in 2006 (0.820) and in Sivas in 2008 (0.948). She was the leading lady in all those years, when Therese Klompenhouwer still was seen as an upcoming talent.
Two years ago, in Japan she was expected to be the best. The Dutch lady was the huge favorite she had won the European titles five times, with better averages than the Japanese girls did before. But Therese's coup failed in the country of the rising sun: she even did not reach to the semi-finals in Tokyo, where a new Japanese star, Natsumi Higashiuchi, grabbed the gold medal.
Will she be surprised again by the Japanese opposition, Therese Klompenhouwer? Or is she mentally so strong now that nobody can threaten her.
Kozoom had a short interview before the start of the championship, which starts on Friday (October 24) with the opening ceremony at the Ataturk Sport Center in Sinop (Turkey).
Frits Bakker/Kozoom: The World Cup in South Korea, two weeks ago, was the best in your career and should give you a wonderful feeling. To win twice in the final qualification, against Savas Bulut from Turkey and Japanese O Takeshima, then being between the major players at the draw for the main tournament.
Therese Klompenhouwer: ,,Yes, it really was amazing, the most beautiful moments ever in my career. I felt so proud to be there in the main event. And I was incredibly happy with the draw to meet Torbjörn Blomdahl as my opponent. I'd practiced a couple of times with him in the weeks before the World Cup. I really hoped that I could play against him. Whatever would happen, the World Cup was already a huge success for me.''
FB/Kozoom: What has your World Cup performance in Korea meant to you mentally?
Therese Klompenhouwer: ,,Ahh... so much. I never felt so strong mentally. I feel that I can turn around a match now, let's say, even when I'm 30-15 down in a game to 40 points. I still can win the match, because I'm able to make 20 caroms in 5 or 6 innings as I showed in the World Cup in Korea.''
FB/Kozoom: Your success there, should it be an inspiration for other ladies?
Therese: ,,I hope so, because now I've shown that it's possible, if you work very hard. You have to offer a lot, you have to fight, of course, but I'm very proud what I did now and enjoyed it immensely.''
FB/Kozoom: You are certainly a pioneer in women's billiard. That's why I ask you: you don't need to by very strong in your arms and your legs to play billiard. You don't need to be physically strong, as in tennis or athletics. What is the reason that it is so difficult for a woman like you to reach the world's top hundred?
Therese: ,,Well, that's primarily because there are very few women in billiards comparing to men. So less women will reach the top. Moreover, we don't get points for our World championships, European championships and national championships. We play mixed World Cups and need to gather our points in these tournaments. I should say: a separate World Cup for women would be better, but it's almost impossible to realize that.''
FB/Kozoom: The World championship is played with sixteen players and the Japanese girls as your most important competitors. How does it feel to be the big favorite, how is the pressure?
Therese: ,,I can handle it, because I know what I'm able to, I know that I can beat them all. It's not that I can't lose, actually I can only lose... because everyone is looking at me as the huge favorite. We'll see how it works out, I'll do my best to win.''
Twelve participants in the World championship are from Europe, four from Asia. The opening ceremony is on Friday at 10:30.
In the four groups will be played to 25 caroms. Two players per group will qualify for the knock out rounds. With eight players in the final round will be played to 35 caroms. The time limit is forty seconds.
The group format:
Group A: Natsumi Higashiuchi, Gülsen Degener, Shin Young Lee, Marianne Mortensen.
Group B: Therse Klompenhouwer, Yuko Nishimoto, Arzu Gok, Jeanette Jensen.
Group C: Karina Jetten, Helga Mitterböck, Estela Cardoso, Guzin Karakasil.
Group D: Orie Hida, Danielle le Bruyn, Aysegul Fendi, Christine Morel.
Kozoom will broadcast all the matches live for its members (for free).