Chinese world No 1 snooker player Bai Yulu hoping more girls will emulate her journey
In a state media interview, 22-year-old world champion calls herself ‘clumsy bird’ who owes her success to practice rather than any ‘genius’
Snooker world No 1 Bai Yulu said on Tuesday that she hopes her journey inspires more people to appreciate the sport’s charm, and encourages more girls to pick up a cue.
In a 37-minute interview with state media, the 22-year-old discussed her career path and described herself as still being in a “growth phase”.
The defending women’s world snooker champion defined herself as a “clumsy bird flying early”, attributing her success to a lot of practice rather than being a “genius”.
“I think talent plays a small part; it mainly depends on how much time you are willing to spend on this sport,” she said.
Recalling her childhood training with male peers, Bai noted that despite slow progress, she practised extensively, spending eight to 10 hours at the table daily.
Even as world No 1, she maintains a high-intensity routine, stating: “If talent is lacking, one must practise more than others.”