KUALA LUMPUR: Five-time national snooker champion Thor Chuan Leong is set for a Sea Games comeback after a six-year hiatus.
The 34-year-old, who last featured in 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur, and had won four gold, has been called up for the Phnom Penh Sea Games in May along with veterans Lim Kok Leong and Moh Keen Hoo.
The Malaysian Snooker and Billiards Federation (MSBF) are aiming big at the coming Sea Games.
MSBF will name more than two cueists this time as there will be a total of four gold up for grabs - two each in the 15-red and six-red (both singles and doubles).
The last time four gold medals were contested in the snooker discipline in the Sea Games was in Korat, 2007.
In Hanoi last year, only two gold were offered with Kok Leong winning the six-red singles title. He fell just short in his bid for a clean sweep after being beaten by Thai legend James Wattana.
With more events being staged this time, there's a sense of optimism in MSBF that they can compete for at least two gold.
"We have three good prospects in Kok Leong, Keen Hoo and Chuan Leong who have all won the Sea Games gold before," said MSBF president Melvin Chia.
"We are counting on the trio to deliver. Our target is two gold, one silver and one bronze.
"Still, it will be a daunting task because as usual, we have the Thais standing in our way.
"Hopefully our guys will be able to carry the good momentum from last year. They have a strong reputation to live up to. Kok Leong is the reigning world amateur champion both individually and team with Keen Hoo.
"Chuan Leong too was the semi-finalist in the World Six-red Amateur Championships."
Chuan Leong will surely be eager to justify his inclusion and make up for the loss of time.
Chuan Leong, who plied his trade on the World Snooker Tour from 2014 to 2020, has not featured for the national team following a disastrous outing at the 2017 KL Games.
His most memorable campaign was in Singapore 2015 when he swept both the singles and doubles gold with Keen Hoo.
Before that, Chuan Leong also teamed up with Sam Chong to win the doubles title in 2011 Indonesian Games and the six-red singles gold in Myanmar in 2013.
Since debuting in 2007, Chuan Leong had featured in every Sea Games edition until 2017.
ENDS
KW: snooker, Thor Chuan Leong, Melvin Chia, Sea Games