Ding tastes his UK Championship victory

Chinese snooker star Ding Junhui beat John Higgins 10-8 in the final of UK Championship, snooker’s second-biggest ranking event on Sunday night, and part of his prize was 69 kilos worth of sponsor’s pies.

Ding wrote on his blog after the win:

It really is a tough match. To me, playing with John is the hardest [compared with other players]. And this is the most tiring match I’ve played with him…

…thank you so much for supporting me by watching the game late at night. I’ll bring home some pies for you if I can.

Turns out that Ding decided to make better use of these pies by donating them all to Homeless and Rootless at Christmas, a Sheffield voluntary group which looks after homeless people over the festive period.

“I’ve lived in Sheffield for the past few years and I love the city,” said the 22-year-old. “The least I can do is try to help some of those less fortunate than me at Christmas by donating these pies – hopefully there are enough to stop people going hungry.”

Ding Junhui is up to sixth in the latest world rankings following his victory. Liang Wenbo, another Chinese player same age as Ding, reached the quarterfinals and moved up to the 12th place.

Links and Sources:

• The Times: Ding Junhui delights his nation by carrying off UK crown
• Yahoo Sports: Ding gives 276 pies to charity
• Ding Junhui’s blog

Photo: World Snooker

From Al Jazeera:

While smoking is on the decline in many Western countries, China is one of the world’s fastest growing smoking markets with public surveys showing a low awareness of the health risks.

About 350 million Chinese, or more than a quarter of the population, are smokers and health officials say about one million Chinese die every year from lung cancer or other smoking-related illnesses.

Tens of millions more are put at risk by passive smoking, because of the lax enforcement of rules banning smoking in public places.

Such a nice thing to do, isn’t it? I sincerely hope they can promote anti smoking in Gongti and other stadiums. What’s the point of lighting a cigarette when watching football live in a stadium? Bù Shuǎng!

From 1 November to 14 December 2008, Kerry Sports is conducting a fund-raising drive to help the Special Olympics organisation, a drive that will culminate with a Christmas Party on Sunday 21 December 2008, from 6pm and 8pm. 

Kerry Sports’ members as well as the general public who are interested in contributing will find the donation box at the reception desk of Kerry Sports, located on the second level of Shangri-La’s Kerry Centre Hotel, Beijing. During the Christmas party, the community will have an opportunity to meet the Special Olympics’ athletes, coaches and volunteers and interact with them by playing some of the games in which they are involved. The event will also showcase the ways in which memberrs and the general public may get involved with the Special Olympics organisation. Tickets for the event will be sold at the door on the event day at RMB150.  

For more information, contact Kerry Sports at 86 10 65618833 ext. 6465.

Special Olympics is an international organization dedicated to the empowerment of individuals with intellectual disabilities to gain physical fitness, and become productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Children and adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics develop improved physical fitness and motor skills, greater self-confidence and a more positive self-image. They grow mentally, socially and spiritually and, through their activities, exhibit boundless courage and enthusiasm, enjoy the rewards of friendship and ultimately discover not only new abilities and talents but “their voices” as well.

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