Zhao Xintong: China’s Rising Snooker Star 🌟
Have you ever tried playing snooker? 🎱 It’s a bit like playing pool, but on a bigger table and with more balls! Let me tell you about Zhao Xintong, a young man from China who is amazing at snooker and is making a big name for himself in the world of sports.
Zhao Xintong picked up his first snooker cue when he was just 8 years old. Imagine starting a new hobby that young! His coach quickly noticed that he had a special talent. Can you believe that his coach said Zhao might be the most accurate player in the world for his age? That’s pretty cool!
By the time he was 13, Zhao came in second at the Chinese national youth tournament. Five years after he first started, he won his first title in his hometown of Shenzhen, in south China’s Guangdong Province. 🏆
In 2016, when Zhao was 19, he became a professional snooker player. But things weren’t always easy. Zhao loved playing an aggressive style, which means taking risky shots to try to win. Sometimes this worked great, but other times it didn’t. Because of this, he had some tough times and was relegated twice, which means he had to step down to a lower level. But you know what? He didn’t give up! He worked hard and got promoted back both times.
In 2021, Zhao had a big breakthrough! He defeated famous players like John Higgins, Jack Lisowski, and Barry Hawkins. Then, he won against Luca Brecel in the final to claim the UK Championship title. 🥇 This was a huge achievement!
The next year, Zhao beat Yan Bingtao in an all-Chinese final at the German Masters, rising to become world number 9. His success showed that with hard work and determination, you can reach your dreams.
However, in 2023, Zhao faced a big challenge. He was suspended for 20 months due to a match-fixing scandal, which means there were issues with unfair games. This was a difficult time for him. But Zhao didn’t let this setback stop him. He used this time to learn and grow.
Zhao realized how much snooker meant to him and learned to stay humble. When he returns to the sport, he will be more determined than ever. His story reminds us that everyone makes mistakes, but it’s important to learn from them and keep moving forward.
Zhao Xintong’s journey teaches us that even when things get tough, we can keep going and reach our goals. His path from a talented kid to a professional player is inspiring many young people around the world. Maybe one day, you’ll pick up a cue and start your own snooker adventure! 🎱✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
