Iris Ranola.
REIGNING Southeast Asian Games double gold medalist Iris Ranola of the Philippines remains on track for a first world title after cruising into the Last 32 of the 2012 World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) Women?s World 9-Ball Open Championship Tuesday in Shenyang, China.
The Pasay City-based Ranola registered a 2-1 win-loss slate in the single round eliminations in group stage, which is composed of eight players.
Ranola whipped Charlene Chai Zeet Huey of Singapore, 7-6, in a do-or-die match in Group C. ?Charlene is a strong player but I played better in the end game,? said Ranola, a Philippine Sportswriters Association awardee.
?I am targeting a spot in the top 16,? said Ranola, a former National Open womens champion who hails from Zamboanga City.
She beat Nicola Rossouw of Pretoria, South Africa, 7-4, but fell to Yu Han of China, 7-1, in the following round.
Earlier, compatriot and former Women?s World 10-ball champion Rubilen ?Bingkay? Amit already advance to the knockout stage. The Cebuana pride Amit scored back-to-back wins against Wu Zhiting of China and Junko Tsuchiya of Japan with a similar 7-6 rack score in Group E.
Philippine Billiards God Father Aristeo ?Putch? Puyat bankrolled Ranola and Amit China campaign. "We have a very good chance of winning the Women's World 9-ball crown," said sportsman/businessman Aristeo ?Putch? Puyat.
The winner will receive $40,000 while the runner up gets a check worth $20,000. The total prize fund is $160,000. In keeping with the Chinese love of glamor in their women's sports, organizers are offering a $2,000 prize for the "Most Stylish Player."
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