The era in which young talents in the three cushion have to develop on national and international level has been disrupted by the COVID-19 crisis. How do they deal with this setback in their careers? Kozoom had interviews with young billiard players all over the world and is completing the series this week. Today: Le Hoang Kim (21) from Vietnam
Name: Le Hoang Kim
Age: 21
Residence: Hochiminh City, Vietnam
Work/study: working in Tran Quyet Chien billiard club
Hobby: billiards, average 1-1.2
Billiard club: Tran Club
Kozoom/Frits Bakker: How do you deal with this long period in your country in which COVID crisis dominates all the world?
Le Hoang Kim: The year 2020 was a very difficult year for all the world. Dealing with COVID crisis, I do with the guiding of the Government like: staying at home when lock down, wearing facemark, keep distance.
2. Kozoom: Is this a time of standstil land stagnation in your young career, in which fast development and progression are so important?
Le Hoang Kim: Yes, this is. Still, I am playing better day by day and I want to play many tournaments. I have sponsorship and support from Hochiminh federation to join to international Tturnament like World Cups, very good for my development. I want to study more, but for now it is impossible.
3. Kozoom: How is the current situation in your home town and your country in relation to COVID-19?
Le Hoang Kim: My country controls this situation very good. Business is almost opened and we can play tournaments from next week.
4. Kozoom: How are the conditions for training regarding players like you in Vietnam? How much can you practice every day or every week?
Le Hoang Kim: I practice every day in Hochiminh Federation training room. It is a very good place for me for practicing and studying. I practice 2-3 hours per day, because I have to go to work at the Billiard Club where Mr. Tran is my teacher.
5. Kozoom: How does life look for you without championships, tournaments and competitions?
Le Hoang Kim: No tournaments and competitions make me feel very difficult. Because I really want to play in official events. With this situation of COVID, I have more time to practice and prepare for the future.
6. Kozoom: What is your country or federation doing to develop careers of young talents?
Le Hoang Kim: Billiards is developing very fast in Vietnam now. The Federation helps us (young talents) very much. They do many things for us like paying salary for training, sponsorint for international tournaments.
7. Kozoom: How do you see your future as a sportsman and possibly as a professional billiard player?
Le Hoang Kim: Billiards is developing in the world and this is a good chance for us to develop ourselves. I will try to practice and study day by day for that future.
Le Hoang Kim during one of his last tournaments in Vietnam
Thanks for helping us with translation, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Nguyen