Philippines, 11 May 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


KELLY FISHER: "l LOVE WINNING. I LOVE THE FEELING"


PhilBoxing.com




AS SHE GETS SET TO DEFEND HER CHINA OPEN TITLE THIS WEEK IN SHANGHAI, KELLY FISHER REFLECTS ON AN AMAZING 2012, AND WHAT SHE EXPECTS TO ACHIEVE IN 2013

(Shanghai)--When Great Britain?s Kelly Fisher won the 2012 China Open 9-ball in Shanghai last September, she knew straight away that she now sat on the mountain top of women?s professional pool.

The realization, however, didn?t stem from just this one impressive victory through a stacked field of the world?s best women players. A few weeks earlier she had won the Women?s World 9-ball Championship in the north eastern Chinese city of Shenyang with a marvellous all-around performance. Prior to that, in August, 2011 Fisher nabbed the Women?s World 10-ball Championship in Manila. After years of toil, with boat loads of failure and near misses in far away lands, Fisher had not only broken through to the winners circle, but was now dominating women?s professional pool.

?This is my peak in pool,? an elated Fisher said right after her 9-2 drubbing of China?s Zhou Doudou in the final of the 2012 China Open. ?I played for 8 years in the States and I was always asking myself, ?Was it going to happen? Could I win the big international events?? I knew I could do it. But actually doing it is another thing?

Fisher?s two victories in China, which led her to be named WPA 2012 Player of the Year, were extra special for the 34 year old because of how brutally difficult it can be for foreigners to win in the world?s most populous nation. Foreigners here have to contend with jet lag, unfamiliar cultural conditions such as the language and food. In addition the women?s game is massively popular in China, with its players like the legend Pan Xiaoting, 2010 World 9-ball champion Fu Xiaofang, and 2009 World 9-ball Champion Lui Sasha enjoying celebrity status wherever they go. Tournaments are aired on national television and Chinese fans are heavily partisan towards one of their own. The pressure can be daunting.

Fisher, though, looked at the obstacles as nothing more than challenges to overcome. She returned again and again to China over the last few years, tasted plenty of defeat, spent lots of her own money, time and effort all with the conviction that, with enough hard work, success would eventually come.

?For a long time I seemed to struggle playing in Asia,? Fisher said recently. ?But maybe due to the amount of events there now I have become accustomed to it and I seem to have managed to bring my ?A? game here. In China the events are always first class and very well organized. The players are always treated really well. The live TV coverage along with the fans is like nowhere else in the world.

?Also, there are a number of tough opponents in China. We have so many great players now and the standard is so high. Which is great for the game. But I try not to think too much of my opponent and focus more on my game.?

Fisher has clearly kept that focus through the down months that are standard for professional pool at the end and beginning of the calendar year. This past March Fisher let it be known to the rest of women?s pool that she plans on continuing her walk on the high wire of success in 2013. She won the prestigious Amway Cup in Taiwan with a come from behind 11-8 win in the final over Austria?s Jasmin Ouschan . Fisher cruised through the field untouched winning an amazing 28 of 35 total games.

?I was so surprised and thrilled to have won the Amway. It was the big event that I hadn't won and I really wanted to get that title under my belt.?

Fisher?s ?surprise? at winning stemmed from some recent personal obstacles that she has had to overcome. Her partner, Val Finnie, was denied a US green card. After living in North Carolina in the USA for 9 years, the pair packed up and moved to Finnie?s hometown of Dumfries, Scotland.

?It was a big move,? Fisher said. ?Scotland is cold. After living in North Carolina for so many years, it?s not easy to get used to. I have got my own table all set up for practice, which wasn't that easy. I've also been practicing with some of the British male players like Chris Melling and Michael Valentine.?

Then in January, Fisher?s father passed away. Fisher had been close with her dad, always sharing her victories and defeats with him over Skype no matter where in the world she was playing. In Taiwan, Fisher said she knew her dad was watching over her, and she used it to her advantage.

?I went into the event with very little expectations of doing so, due to my father?s passing and moving and no table to practice. So it really meant a great deal to me to win. It's one of my favorite events and I felt my dad with me all the way.?

Fisher realizes that with so much recent success, all eyes will be on her this week in Shanghai to hold on to her China Open title and world number 1 ranking, and continue her amazing streak. She knows better than anyone, however, just how fleeting success can be in the professional game. As usual with the affable Brit, she knows the key to success is to keep things in perspective.

?Obviously I am thrilled with the year I had in 2012. I always believed I could do it but it was still amazing to actually pull it off. I played solid throughout the year and really dug in deep. Things went my way and I managed to take advantage of that.

?I love winning. I love the feeling. I really want to try and keep that going for as long as I can. My ambition now is to try and retain some of my titles and keep that number 1 spot. I do realize that this is a high ambition with the standard of play but it sure would be nice.

?I would love nothing more than to retain my (China Open) title and I know it's possible and I'm capable to do so. However, I'm just going to go into the event hoping to play well and take it one match at a time and try my best. I don't want to put any pressure on myself, so I can only give my all and see what happens.?

*The 2013 China Open will be held in Shanghai, China from May 12-19 and is sanctioned by the World Pool & Billiard Association(WPA). 64 men and 48 women will compete in separate 9-ball events. The China Open is a WPA ranking event. The main event will begin on May 16 and run through May 19.

The WPA will be providing full coverage of the 2013 China Open via its website at www.wpapool.com, and through Facebook at www.facebook.com/WpaChinaOpen. The WPA will be providing live scoring of all matches, daily articles and analysis from WPA Press Officer Ted Lerner, and photographs. Fans can also follow the event through Twitter; @poolwpa.

The 2013 China Open will be streamed online through several Chinese websites. The WPA will be providing the links through our Facebook page as we receive them.




Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ted Lerner, WPS Media Officer.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Referee and Ringside Doctor Save Emanuel Navarrete
    By Ed de la Vega, DDS, , Sun, 11 May 2025
  • Technically Speaking: Navarrete Edges Suarez to Retain Crown
    , Sun, 11 May 2025
  • Navarrete Retains WBO Title via Controversial Technical Decision Over Suarez
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 11 May 2025
  • PHOTOS: Charly Suarez Ready to Face Emanuel Navarrete; Fight Analysis
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 11 May 2025
  • Sampson Boxing returns to Panama with a mega world boxing night
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 11 May 2025
  • SarBay Fest 2025 kicks off May 23
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 11 May 2025
  • Suarez vows all-out war
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 11 May 2025
  • Suarez Looks to Exploit Navarrete's Weight Problem
    By Ed de la Vega, DDS, , Sat, 10 May 2025
  • Weekend Preview & Picks for ESPN, DAZN, & ProBox Bouts
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 10 May 2025
  • Weights from Fort Washington, MD
    , Sat, 10 May 2025
  • Navarrete, Suarez Make Weight for WBO Title Clash; Muratalla and Abdullaev Ready for Interim IBF Battle
    , Sat, 10 May 2025
  • HIGHLY-TOUTED BANTAMWEIGHT ADAM MACA SIGNS PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
    , Sat, 10 May 2025
  • CAPITO CRASHES OUT IN TITLE DEFENCE AS YAPP ENDS UK OPEN REIGN | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Sat, 10 May 2025
  • A TRIO OF MATCHUPS ADDED TO "CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH: A NIGHT OF BOXING" PRESENTED BY 555 MEDIA AND BASH BOXING
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • SHAW SURGES AS CAPITO STUMBLES IN TITLE DEFENCE | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • 2025 USA Boxing Youth Men’s and Women’s High Performance Teams announced
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • Jessie Villasin chess tournament on Sunday
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: San Diego Favorite Emanuel Navarrete Set to Reignite Mexico-Philippines Rivalry against Charly Suarez
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS PRESENTS: UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLARESSA SHIELDS vs. LANI DANIELS SATURDAY, JULY 26 * LITTLE CAESARS ARENA
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • Unbeaten Anthony Velazquez pitched shutout at home in Springfield
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • TYSON FURY VOTED THE MOST ENTERTAINING BOXER IN THE WORLD, ACCORDING TO BRITISH FANS
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • Undefeated super middleweight contender Darius Fulghum preparing to ‘Make a big splash’ vs. Bek Melikuziev
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • OKC Routs Denver; 149-106, Ties Series; Semis Series in East Remain Topsy-turvy as Boston Goes Down 0-2 With 91-90 Loss to NY
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 08 May 2025
  • SHAW SENDS A MESSAGE IN HUNT FOR UK OPEN GLORY | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Thu, 08 May 2025
  • WBO presents the Amanda Serrano Championships
    , Thu, 08 May 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.