The women's 3-cushion carom event required players to score 30 points, without an equalization inning. Yen Sinh's opponent in the final match was South Korea's Lee Yu Na.

Amidst enthusiastic support from a large crowd at Ho Xuan Huong Gymnasium in TP HCM, Yen Sinh started strong with accurate shots. She led 5-0, 8-3, 12-5, then 15-5 after the first half.

Following the break, Yen Sinh extended her lead. Lee attempted a comeback with a six-point series, narrowing the gap to 18-24. However, the home player displayed composure, executing precise shots to lead 26-18, 29-19, and ultimately conclude the match 30-19 after 35 innings.

Billiards player Nguyen Duc Yen Sinh competing in the Asian 3-cushion carom final against Lee Yu Na on the afternoon of 10/5. Photo: Phong Suong

On her path to securing Vietnam's first billiards championship in this category, Yen Sinh maintained consistent performance throughout the tournament. In the group stage, the TP HCM player won two matches and lost one, advancing to the knockout rounds with a better differential.

In the quarterfinals, Yen Sinh secured a dramatic 30-25 victory over Baek Ga In of South Korea. She then defeated defending champion Heo Chae Won, also from South Korea, 30-12 in just 22 innings during the semifinals, including a record-breaking inning where she scored 10 points. Across her three knockout matches, including the final, Yen Sinh proved to be a formidable opponent, overcoming all three South Korean female players.

Nguyen Duc Yen Sinh, 22 years old and from TP HCM, is a rising talent in Vietnamese billiards, specializing in 3-cushion carom.

The 14th Asian Carom Billiards Championship for 2026 took place from 7-10/5 at Ho Xuan Huong Gymnasium (Xuan Hoa Ward, TP HCM). Athletes competed in four categories: men's 3-cushion carom, U22 men's 3-cushion carom, women's 3-cushion carom, and men's 1-cushion carom. The tournament attracted top professional players from across the continent, including Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan.

Earlier in the tournament, Bao Phuong Vinh earned a silver medal in the men's 3-cushion carom category after losing to Kim Haeng-jik in the final.

In the men's 1-cushion carom event, Pham Canh Phuc secured the championship with a dominant 100-42 victory over Mori Yoichirou of Japan in 14 innings. For the U22 men's 3-cushion carom final, defending champion Kim Do Hyun demonstrated his skill with an opening break of 14 points, leading 21-4 after the first half. Although Dinh Trong Van significantly reduced the deficit to 24-36 in the second half, Kim Do Hyun ultimately won the match 40-28 after 25 innings. Despite the loss, finishing as runner-up marked a significant achievement for Dinh Trong Van.

Duc Dong