3-Cushion
TOKYO - Six European players, the Japanese Orie Hida who defends the world title, probably two Koreans, supplemented with a few other Japanese players are the participants in the World Championship three-cushion for ladies. The tournament will be organized from 21 to 23 november in Tokyo. The Netherlands is very well reprensented with three players.
Therese Klompenhouwer, the European champion, is one of the major competitors of defending champion Orie Hida. Karina Jetten is the current number three in Europe, behind Danielle le Bruyn from Belgium, who has not signed up for Tokyo.
The other European participants are Gülsen Degener from Turkey, Monique van Hamond from the Netherlands, Marianne Mortensen from Denmark and Helga Mitterböck from Austria.
Together with Orie Hida, the Korean player Bora Jung is a certain participant of Asia. The field of sixteen players will be complemented by a second Korean and some Japanese players.
According to Jean Claude Dupont, president of the World federation UMB, the American confederation more than likely will not send players to Japan. ,,That's why we try to complete the field with Japanese women.''
Orie Hida is eager to defend her title. The Japanese considers Therese Klompenhouwer as her major rival. ,,I hope to be able to compete with her, but she's very strong'' she said in a video clip for the World Championship.
The Japanese also said: ,,Three cushion for ladies is a minor sport, but we do everything to improve ourselves. I hope many people will come to watch the games and will cheer us.''
Therese Klompenhouwer is ready to take a shot at the world title. The championship for women will be held after a break of several years. The Dutch lady looks forward after having demonstrated for many years she is the best in Europe.
,,I won all European Championships in which I participated, but unfortunately there were nog Worlds in all those years. I'm really looking forward now to this tournament.''
The World Championship will be played in the Kasumigaseki Plaza Hotel in Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo. Sixteen players, divided into four groups of four, will battle for the title.