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Chinese snooker professionals rush for home from epidemic hit UK

South China Morning Post

發布於 2020年03月30日13:03 • Chan Kin-wa kinwa.chan@scmp.com
  • Ding Junhui has five journeys cancelled before touching down in northern China city Shenyang with teammate Tian Pengfei
  • Another 10 players arrive in Shanghai with help from State Sports General Administration
Ding Junhui and a group of Chinese players fled for home over the weekend from epidemic-hit England. Photo: Xinhua
Ding Junhui and a group of Chinese players fled for home over the weekend from epidemic-hit England. Photo: Xinhua

Twelve Chinese professional snooker players, headed by top player Ding Junhui, were feeling towards home from epidermic hit England over the weekend to avoid coronavirus infection.

Reports in the mainland said Ding had arrived Shenyang with teammate Tian Pengfei while 10 other players came home through Shanghai Pudong Airport.

According to Beij ing Youth Daily, Ding had five previous bookings cancelled before finally making it through transit via Netherlands capital Amsterdam, which could only get him to the north China city. The two players did not eat anything during the entire flight to minimise the possibility of becoming infected. Both Ding and Tian are now under 14-day isolation in a hotel in Shenyang in accordance to the latest quarantine control in China.

Ding Junhui kisses his trophy after winning his third UK Championship in York in December. Photo: Xinhua
Ding Junhui kisses his trophy after winning his third UK Championship in York in December. Photo: Xinhua

The same quarantine rule applies to the 10 players coming through Shanghai with the help of the State General Sports Administration that provided air tickets, according to Sina Sports. These 10 players including Xiao Guodong, Li Hang and Yuan Sijun also endured great difficulty in making their home journey until the authorities lent them their support.

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The Chinese players were waiting for the final word on the forthcoming World Championship in Sheffield before making their decision. On March 20, world snooker tour chairman Barry Hearn announced that the tournament, scheduled for April 18 to May 4, had been postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. But already air tickets had become very difficult to come by as many Chinese hurried to get home from Europe.

Zhou Yuelong is another Chinese professional that has returned home from epidemic-hit England. Photo: Xinhua
Zhou Yuelong is another Chinese professional that has returned home from epidemic-hit England. Photo: Xinhua

Ding, the world No 10, returned to China after winning his third UK Championship when he beat Stephen Maguire 10-6 in the final in York in early December. He left for England again after Christmas and played a number of tournaments including the European Masters, German Masters and the Welsh Open with the World Championship at the illustrious Crucible Theatre his biggest target.

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However, a small number of Chinese players chose to stay behind in England including up-and-coming Yan Bingtao. Yan, who lifted the Riga Masters in Latvia in July and reached the final in the Players Championship in Southport in February, said it would also be very dangerous during the long-haul flight back to China because of the epidemic. The world No 16 preferred to stay in England with his girlfriend who has a job in the country.

Yan Bingtao is one of the promising players from China. Photo: Xinhua
Yan Bingtao is one of the promising players from China. Photo: Xinhua

Another player Liang Wenbo also decided to stay in England where his wife and three children are with him.

Meanwhile the Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council urged the government to lift the temporary measures, which include the suspension of operations at billiard and snooker establishments.

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"We believer billiard sports pose very low risk in terms of transmission of virus and wish the suspension of operations imposed on billiard establishments to be lifted upon the expiry of the current 14-day period," said a statement addressed to Lau Kong-wah, Secretary for Home Affairs.

The Council said the billiard industry had suffered since the beginning of the social unrest in mid-2019 and the current forced suspension of operations due to the epidemic outbreak had made things worse.

Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

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