Kim Ga-young Banned in Taiwan

Kim Ga-young, who has won two consecutive Women’s World Pool Championships, was suspended indefinitely in Taiwan. Taiwan has been the center of the 24-year-old billiards player’s activities.

“When I went to Taiwan last month after finishing the Doha Asian Games, I was informed that I was not allowed to participate in all competitions organized or sponsored by the Taiwanese Pool Association,” said Kim, who is currently in Taiwan, during a telephone interview on February 6. She had to miss Taiwan’s largest billiards competition held at the end of last month. Kim Ga-young won the competition for the third consecutive time last year.

The association gave her this harsh penalty because a Korean cheer team behaved in an ill-manner at the final of the women’s pool match in the Doha Asian Game held in December 2006, according to sources. Her supporters clapped or cheered whenever Kim’s opponent, a Taiwanese player, made a mistake.

However, Kim Ga-young believes that the measure was taken to check the outstanding performances of foreigner players in Taiwan.

“Although we can’t conclude anything just based on Kim Ga-young’s argument, the Taiwanese Billiards Association could have been upset because Kim has frequently beat Shin-Mei Liu, ranked No. 1 in Taiwan. If her argument that the Taiwanese association imposed penalties based on irrational reasons is officially verified to be true, the Korea Billiards Federation will draw up measures to respond it,” Lee Jang-hee, a director of the Korea Billiards Federation, said.

Kim Ga-young is planning to focus her activities in the U.S.

kimsk@donga.com