Melvin's same old story

MALAYSIA Snooker and Billiards Federation (MSBF) will again rely on the same old faces for next year's Vietnam Sea Games.

MSBF president Melvin Chia said it is "the same old story" for the sport which continues to struggle as they don't have a permanent training venue.

"I have been repeating the same old story every year as we still don't have a permanent centre to train and also develop new athletes. It has been like this for the past eight years," said Melvin.

Melvin Chia
Melvin Chia

"We will still be depending on the same senior players such as Moh Keen Hoo for the next Sea Games.

"These players can't go on forever.

"The support we received (from authorities) has only been based on an ad hoc basis. Our players do not receive any allowances (when competitions such as Sea Games are not being held).

"The National Sports Council (NSC) previously offered us an area to train, somewhere near Bukit Jalil, but it can only be used during office hours between 8am-6pm which was not suitable for us.

"We are still hoping to find a solution."

Malaysia won one gold in the men's snooker doubles through Keen Hoo-Lim Kok Leong and one silver through Keen Hoo in the men's singles at the 2019 Philippines Sea Games.

Keen Hoo, who will turn 35 next month, has won a medal in almost every edition of the Sea Games since 2005.

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