Mar 17 • 08:14 UTC 🇰🇷 Korea Hankyoreh (KR)

Women's Billiards Six-Time Champion Kim Ga-young: 'I Expect Growth from Juniors Like Han Ji-eun and Jeong Su-bin'

Kim Ga-young expresses satisfaction with her achievements, including six championships, but emphasizes her desire for improvement and is hopeful about the growth of younger players.

At the 2025-2026 PBA Golden Cue Awards held in Seoul, South Korea, Kim Ga-young, a prominent three-cushion billiards player, shared her feelings on receiving multiple accolades, including her third consecutive top honor. Achieving a total of six championships this season, including money, average score, bank shot, and team league titles, she expressed joy over her accomplishments but also indicated that she is not entirely satisfied, as she aims for personal growth beyond her previous records. During the awards ceremony, she highlighted the competition among female players as improving significantly, noting that factors such as average scores, gameplay quality, and fundamentals have all seen marked advancements.

In a press conference before the event, Kim reflected on her performance during the season, where she won four out of ten events, placing her on top for earnings and average in the women's division. Despite her success, she expressed a sense of unfinished business, saying that she does not feel she has improved enough, indicating a desire to address areas needing work. She specifically mentioned her younger competitors like Han Ji-eun and Jeong Su-bin as promising talents who have shown remarkable progress, which intensifies her motivation to keep pushing herself to improve.

Daniel Sanchez, who also earned accolades, such as the sportsmanship award, echoed the sentiments of fair play as a vital aspect of sports. He secured wins in two of five final tournaments this season, showcasing his competitive spirit. Both Sanchez and Kim are setting examples not only by their performances but also by their attitudes toward continuous improvement and the encouragement of upcoming players in the sport, fostering a vibrant future for women's billiards. Their commitment to excellence reflects a broader trend in the sport, highlighting the increasing competitiveness and skill level of female athletes in billiards.

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