The lady is right on cue

Bow tie and specs

Her own trademark glasses are due to a stigmatism in both eyes and she said the round lenses help her perfect her aim from a variety of angles.

Ng spent her early years running around the snooker hall her parents managed in the working-class Hong Kong district of Sham Shui Po, stacked with high-rise buildings and known for its bustling street market.

Smoke-filled snooker halls are often portrayed as shady dens frequented by triads, but Ng always felt at home there and enjoyed watching her father, who was an amateur player.

She particularly loved his snooker outfit, a sleek vest and bow tie－a look that Ng herself has adopted.

"I wished one day I could wear the same things," she recalled and started learning the game from her dad when she was 13.

Her father traveled with her to overseas tournaments and would comfort her when she cried after losing.

Burger breaks

"If I practised well, my dad would make a mark on a blackboard. When there were 10 marks, he would reward me with hamburgers and fries," Ng said.

Her strict eight-hour daily training schedule covers shot selection and fitness at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, although Ng still finds time to play with her dad at his snooker club.

It was a difficult transition from teen student to professional for Ng, who quit school at the age of 17 to choose what she describes as a "different path".

"Sometimes I felt quite empty when speaking to some of my friends, especially with the topics outside of snooker," she said. But with the support and understanding of her peer group, she managed to adapt.

Ng returned to studying last year to complete an advanced accounting diploma, but snooker is still her priority.

She sees herself as an ambassador for the sport.

"Hopefully I can let people know snooker is a healthy sport and ladies can also play snooker－even with glasses," she said.

Agence France-Presse