Japanese forces, but one big favorite

TOKYO - Six Japanese and three Dutch are the principal part in the sixteen-member field of women that will battle for the world three cushion title from 21 to 23 november. In their own country, in the Kasumi Plaza Hall in Tokyo, the opposition for the Japanese players will mainly come from the Dutch Therese Klompenhouwer. She impressed with her performance at the Dutch championship last weekend.

The organization has announched the groups this weekend. The current world champion Orie Hida is playing with Karina Jetten, Namiko Hayashi and Kyung Hui Oh. Therese Klompenhouwer faces in her group amongst others her compatriott Monique van Hamond.

Remarkable fact is that the mother of the world champion, Kazumi Hida, is one of the participants.

In the four groups of four players will be played to 25 points. Two first players in each group advance for the quarterfinals, where in a knockout system will be played to 25 with an equalizing inning and possibly penalties.
 
The former men's world champion, Ryuji Umeda, is the tournament director.
 
The groups:

Group A: Orie Hida (Japan), Karina Jetten (Netherlands), Namiko Hayashi (Japan), Kyung Hui Oh (South Korea).
Group B: Therese Klompenhouwer (Neth), Ji Hyun Park (Kr), Kazumi Hida (Jp), Monique van Hamond (Neth).
Group C: Ester Park (America), Gülsen Degener (Turkey), Ayaka Fukumoto (Jp), Yuko Nishimoto (Jp).
Group D: Su Ah Park (Kr), Natsumi Higashiuchu (Jp), Marianne Mortensen (Denmark), Helga Mitterböck (Austria).