Xiao Guodong and Bai Yulu both won gold medals for China at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu. Both players elected to compete in the event and represent their country, sacrificing the chance to play in the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.
Bai beat Thailand’s Narucha Phoemphul 2-0 in the women’s six-red final on Wednesday. Playing in the World Games for the first time, she lost one of her group matches but hit back to qualify for the knockout phase. Bai then beat Belgium’s Wendy Jans 2-0 in the semi-finals then outplayed Phoemphul in the final.
World number 13 Xiao followed up with victory in the men’s event on Thursday, beating former Shoot Out champion from Cyprus Michael Georgiou 2-1 in the final. He had also earlier lost a group game fixture, beaten 2-1 by Poland’s Sebastian Milewski, but like Bai he recovered to make it out of his group.
Wuhan Open champion Xiao then beat India’s Sourav Kothari 2-0 in the quarter-finals and Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif 2-0 in the semis. He won the first frame of the final before Georgiou levelled with a century, only for Xiao to take a tense decider.
“For me, national honour comes above everything else. Any time I get the chance to represent my country, I will give it my all – my only goal is the gold medal,” said Xiao, who had previously represented China at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, winning two gold medals. “This time it is more special. It’s a world multi-sport event held in China, and my first World Games appearance, so I was more excited. Winning at home is always more meaningful.”
Wrapping himself in the Chinese flag for a lap of honour, Xiao embraced his coach and added: “I’m thrilled to win at home.”
Article by WST.
The post Xiao And Bai Strike Gold For China appeared first on WPBSA.
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Bai beat Thailand’s Narucha Phoemphul 2-0 in the women’s six-red final on Wednesday. Playing in the World Games for the first time, she lost one of her group matches but hit back to qualify for the knockout phase. Bai then beat Belgium’s Wendy Jans 2-0 in the semi-finals then outplayed Phoemphul in the final.
World number 13 Xiao followed up with victory in the men’s event on Thursday, beating former Shoot Out champion from Cyprus Michael Georgiou 2-1 in the final. He had also earlier lost a group game fixture, beaten 2-1 by Poland’s Sebastian Milewski, but like Bai he recovered to make it out of his group.
Wuhan Open champion Xiao then beat India’s Sourav Kothari 2-0 in the quarter-finals and Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif 2-0 in the semis. He won the first frame of the final before Georgiou levelled with a century, only for Xiao to take a tense decider.
“For me, national honour comes above everything else. Any time I get the chance to represent my country, I will give it my all – my only goal is the gold medal,” said Xiao, who had previously represented China at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, winning two gold medals. “This time it is more special. It’s a world multi-sport event held in China, and my first World Games appearance, so I was more excited. Winning at home is always more meaningful.”
Wrapping himself in the Chinese flag for a lap of honour, Xiao embraced his coach and added: “I’m thrilled to win at home.”
Article by WST.
The post Xiao And Bai Strike Gold For China appeared first on WPBSA.
Continue reading...
