Kuo Po-cheng won the men’s eight-ball pool singles competition Nov. 15 at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, mainland China, taking home Taiwan’s second gold medal.
Kuo’s victory continued Taiwan’s streak of winning gold in billiards at every Asian Games dating back to the 1998 tourney in Bangkok, Thailand.
It also marked Kuo’s first major international title since entering top-level competition 12 years ago.
Kuo, nicknamed the “little devil,” was steady from the start in the championship match against Ibrahim Amir, prevailing against his Malaysian rival 7-4 in the end. Amir had defeated Taiwan’s Wu Chia-ching in the gold medal contest at the previous Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.
Kuo’s triumph comes after his career admittedly hit a low-point in July of this year. “Ever since being selected to represent Taiwan on the international stage, I have performed quite poorly,” he said.
“Some people even ridiculed my selection to play for Taiwan at the Asian Games as disgraceful,” Kuo said, glowing in the knowledge that he proved his critics wrong with the gold medal performance.
This year has turned out to be a blessing for Kuo, who also got married and had his first child during 2010. “After all the good things that have happened to me, this is a year that I will never forget,” he said.
Kuo’s gold was one of five medals won by Taiwan athletes Nov. 15. Soft tennis pair Cheng Chu-ling and Li Chia-hung grabbed silver in mixed doubles, while Hang Chia-ling and Liu Chia-lun took home bronze in the event.
Meanwhile, Lien Chen-ling won a bronze medal in the women’s 57-kilogram judo competition, and Wen Ching-ni snagged bronze in the women’s Taijiquan and Taijijian All-Round event. (SB)