" We request that the World Billiards Federation (UMB) and the Asian Carom Billiards Federation (ACBC) objectively and accurately review the matter, and also demand that the Chinese Billiards & Snooker Association (CBSA), the Organizing Committee, and the media outlets of the event provide a satisfactory response, remove all false images, and restore the integrity, nobility, and non- political nature of the sport ," the Vietnam Billiards & Snooker Federation (VBSF) officially announced.
According to VBSF, on September 23rd, a friendly 3-cushion carom billiards tournament was held in Shanghai, in collaboration with the World Billiards Federation (UMB) and the China Billiards & Snooker Association (CBSA). This event aimed to celebrate CBSA's membership in the Asian Carom Billiards Federation (ACBC) and to promote the sport in the world's most populous country.
Tran Quyet Chien withdrew from a friendly tournament in China to protest the image of the "nine-dash line" map. (Illustrative image)
Tran Quyet Chien is one of four athletes invited to participate, alongside Dick Jaspers (Netherlands), Tayfun Tasdemir (Turkey), and Cho Myung-woo (South Korea). The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports - the governing body of the athlete - issued the decision to send Quyet Chien to participate.
On the first day of competition, the organizers used the CBSA logo (which included a map of China) with the addition of Vietnam's Hoang Sa and Truong Sa islands, and broadcast it live on television at the table where Tran Quyet Chien was competing against Dick Jaspers. The VBSF (Vietnam Basketball Federation) became aware of the incident and decided to have Tran Quyet Chien stop competing and return to Vietnam immediately.
In a document sent to the World Billiards Federation, the VBSF affirmed that the reason Tran Quyet Chien withdrew from the competition was because the event organizers used images that violated Vietnam's territorial sovereignty. Competing in a context where the image of the nation's territorial sovereignty was being violated in this way is unacceptable for Tran Quyet Chien personally, as well as for any Vietnamese or other national athlete.
" After discovering this detail, coach Nguyen Viet Hoa and athlete Tran Quyet Chien reported it to the leadership of the Vietnam Billiards & Snooker Federation (VBSF). The VBSF leadership quickly consulted and decided that Tran Quyet Chien would stop competing and return to Vietnam immediately on the evening of September 23 ," VBSF wrote in the announcement.
Also this afternoon (September 28), the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports issued a statement regarding the incident, affirming that " the actions of athlete Tran Quyet Chien are highly appreciated for his political awareness, civic responsibility, and national pride ." At the same time, it requested the World Billiards Federation to remind the host countries of the tournament to strictly adhere to the rules and remain neutral on political issues.
Van Hai
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