CHINA. Beijing. Ding Junhui sits bored as media photograph him at the press conference fpr the China Open. Ding won the tournament in 2005 and was automatically a national sporting icon. Snooker is a cue sport played on a large table measuring 3.6 metres x 1.8 metres. Originating in India in the late 19th Century where it was invented by British Army officers, the game has been a mainstay in British sport over the past few decades. Recently however, popularity of the sport has declined as the sport struggles to compete with other popular sports. The sport is however flourishing in countries such as China, where it is now the second most popular sport, behind Basketball. In a country where the players are treated like movie-stars, China may be the great hope for the sports recovery. 2009
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