What does the Billiards Federation say?

The Women's World Championship in 3-Cushion Carom Billiards, held in France, concluded on September 12th. Vietnam had two representatives in this tournament: Nguyen Hoang Yen Nhi and Phung Kien Tuong. Yen Nhi excelled, reaching the semi-finals and winning a bronze medal at the World Championship. This achievement set a new milestone in the history of Vietnamese billiards, as Yen Nhi is the first player to win a medal at the Women's World Championship.

The title at the World Championships in France helped Yen Nhi solidify her position as Vietnam's number one female 3-cushion carom billiards player. Prior to this, the player from Da Nang had won a silver medal in 3-cushion carom at the 32nd SEA Games, national gold medals in women's 3-cushion carom in 2023 and 2024, and a gold medal at the VBSF Cup 2024.

The amount of money athletes have to spend on overseas competitions is too much for them.

Nguyen Hoang Yen Nhi expressed her feelings about not receiving any financial support from VBSF to help her cover the costs of her trip to France. Yen Nhi said that she and her teammate Phung Kien Tuong had spent about 55 million VND per person for their trip to France to participate in the 2024 Women's World Championship (including round-trip airfare, food for 6 days, and transportation to the competition venue).

Nguyen Hoang Yen Nhi is the first Vietnamese player in the history of 3-cushion carom billiards to win a medal at the Women's World Championship.

“In March 2024, when VBSF announced the fee for membership, it was 500,000 VND per player per year, plus 200,000 VND (a one-time payment) for the membership card. VBSF collected the money from the athletes but did not pay even a small amount for us to participate in the tournament, even though we were competing as athletes representing Vietnam. So where did the money VBSF collected from us and other athletes go if it wasn't used to support the national team? Meanwhile, the amount of money we received for competing was a lot compared to an athlete with a team salary of 11.5 million VND per month like us,” Yen Nhi questioned.

The female billiards player from Da Nang added: “In August 2024, I received information that I and Ms. Phung Kien Tuong (a player from the Vung Tau City Billiard & Snooker team) would be participating in the Women's World Championship in France from September 10-12, 2024. This is the most prestigious tournament of our billiards careers. However, the information also stated that the cost of participating in the world championship would be covered by the managing organizations (Da Nang and Vung Tau). But this information was released just before the tournament started, not at the beginning of the year, so our city did not have a plan in place regarding this cost. This means we would not receive support from the managing organization. This also means that Ms. Phung Kien Tuong and I would have to pay 100% of the entire trip to France ourselves (approximately 55 million VND). I feel really bad about this.” It's unfair to athletes who are competing and contributing to the country without receiving any financial support from VBSF. So the question is, what is the purpose of establishing VBSF, when before VBSF started collecting fees from athletes, the managing organization would independently plan for athletes to compete abroad?”

VBSF and Yen Nhi reached an agreement before VBSF made the decision.

Following feedback from billiards player Nguyen Hoang Yen Nhi, Thanh Nien Newspaper contacted Mr. Doan Tuan Anh - General Secretary of VBSF (also in charge of this sport at the Department of Sports and Physical Education) and received a response. Mr. Tuan Anh shared: “That is just Yen Nhi's personal opinion. In fact, when assisting Yen Nhi with the procedures to compete, both sides discussed that there would be no financial support from VBSF. The VBSF's decision to send Yen Nhi to compete also did not mention anything about financial support.”

The decision was made in agreement between VBSF and the athlete's governing body, as well as the athlete himself.

Mr. Tuan Anh stated that, according to procedure, VBSF must confirm Yen Nhi's membership status before the World 3-Cushion Carom Billiards Federation (UMB) can send an invitation to participate in the World Championship. "When the UMB sent the invitation, VBSF discussed it with the athlete. Before deciding to send the athlete to compete, both sides agreed that there would be no financial support from the federation; the individual or locality would be responsible for the costs," the VBSF Secretary General affirmed.

Regarding membership fees, Mr. Tuan explained: "The money contributed by members is not enough to cover the federation's events throughout the year. Just the prize money for the two tournaments, one for carom and one for pool, as stipulated in the regulations, is already 700 million VND. Membership fees from members are limited to a maximum of about 350 million VND per year."

The VBSF Secretary General added: “Regarding the departments under the provincial authority, there will be a budget set aside annually. If it's state budget money, then there must be a plan from the beginning of the year, not waiting until the department or federation announces it.”

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thuc-hu-co-thu-khong-duoc-ho-tro-tien-di-phap-thi-dau-lien-doan-billiards-noi-gi-185240915183750932.htm