LUXOR - Seventeen hours on her way from Tokyo to Luxor, almost a whole day from her home town in Saitama, forty kilometers outside Tokyo. There she arrived in the Sonesta St George hotel in Luxor: the 36-year Namiko Hayashi, one of the best ladies three-cushion players in the world, for the first time in a World Cup in Egypt, because she want to better prepare for this year's World championships in Guri, Korea. Tomorrow, Sunday, on the first day of the World Cup in Luxor, she has to come to the billiards in a group with William Oh and an Egyptian player. Does she feel the jetlag after such a long trip? ,,I don't feel anything for now. When I played in New York last year, it was terrible, here it's not so bad.''
Namiko is aiming to play the World Cups this year to prepare well for the World championship in Guri. She realizes, of course, that Therese Klompenhouwer, the title holder and Orie Hida, the triple world champion from Japan are the hot favorites, the main contenders. But anyway, the World Cup is the first serious test for her to gain boost of morale. Then, Hayashi will continue in Ho Chi Minh.
She was second in the Femina Open two years ago, a Belgian tournament with world class players, behind Therese Klompenhouwer but ahead of the then reigning world champion Natsumi Higashiuchi. She was fourth at the 2012 World championships in Tokyo and fourth at the US Open in New York in 2013. ,,The Japanese women slowly are growing to a very good form'', she warns the rest of the world, when she's looking forward to the World championship. She herself wants to make a bid for the podium. Therefore Namiko Hayashi is playing the upcoming World Cup tournaments.
Kozoom/Frits Bakker: Therese Klompenhouwer and Orie Hida are the main favorites, they are for years the best ladies players of the world. Who else do you expect for the title?
Namiko Hayashi: ,,Therese always play well, but Orie Hida is really on her best, in top form. She played 1.300 average in the final tournament for the Japanese championship. I have a tremendous respect for her. Natsumi Higashichi won a tournament ahead of Yuko Nishimoto and Orie Hida. There are quite a few young Korean players who are coming up very quick and the Cambodian Srong Pheavy was very strong in New York. I expect a great battle, in which I hope to be able to reach the podium.''
Kozoom/FB: Is your life, these years, especially dedicated to billiards and work?
NH: ,,Yes, actually, first of all, I am married, without children. I work in the billiards place of Mr. Shiada in Tokyo, who is my teacher and who also is the teacher of Ryuuji Umeda and Orie Hida. I go by train and bus to the billiard place every day, a one-and-a-half hour trip. But if I want to practice by myself, I go to a room closer to my home. I play and I train to bring my level up, but also because I enjoy billiards. I play to have fun, my average is around or just below one. Still, I wanna do everything to improve it.''
Kozoom/FB: This is your first time in Egypt, a special experience?
NH: ,,I hope so, because I want to gain experience. I'm learning English to be able to talk with the top players about the game. And when I'm off, I stay here to watch the matches until Sunday. I want to learn. Maybe, I will make a culture trip, but I don't know for now. The World Cup here and in Ho Chi Minh City should be a stepping stone on the road to better goals and to the World championship for me.''
Tomorrow, Sunday, Namiko plays for the first time at 15.30 (CET) against the loser of the match William Oh-Magdy Salah El Din. Gülsen Degener, the European number two last year, also comes to the arena on the first day against the Dane Claus Foge and the Egyptian Mohamed Elseady.
The games on this first qualifying day start at 11.00 and will be broadcast live by Kozoom.
Namiko Hayashi, second left in front, with other ladies top players: Orie Hida, Ryoko Kobayashi and Sruong Pheavy