Da Chen Appointed WDBS Ambassador for China
World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) is today delighted to announce the appointment of Da Chen as its first official ambassador for China.
Da, who joined the WDBS Tour earlier this year at the UK Disability Snooker Championship as a Group 2 player, has instigated several charitable initiatives in China in recent years. Most notably, he and his friends have regularly organised the ‘Wheelchair to the Great Wall’ event, which since 2015 has regularly seen over 1,300 wheelchair users able to achieve their dream of going to the Great Wall of China with the support of up to 400 volunteers.
Both WDBS and Da share a commitment to raise awareness of WDBS and disability snooker within China and to build upon the close links between the country and the sport of snooker.
In 2018, leading WDBS officials visited the China Administration of Sports for Persons with Disabilities (CASPD) to explore future partnership opportunities. This was followed by successful open days held in Beijing in both 2018 and 2019.
Da Chen, WDBS China Ambassador said: “I am excited to be able to help support WDBS in its ambition to engage with people with disabilities in China.
“In recent years I have made many friends, accumulated many experiences, and learned a lot about the barriers facing people with disabilities and how these can be overcome.
“I myself have already enjoyed competing on the table during 2022 and I hope to be able to introduce more people to this wonderful sport.”
Nigel Mawer QPM, WDBS Chairman said: “I am very happy to be able to welcome Da Chen to the team in a move that underlines our commitment to the support and promotion of disability snooker in China.
“In addition to the strong calendar of tournaments that we have within the UK, it is crucial to the long-term growth and development of WDBS as an international body that we can provide more opportunities for people with disabilities to play our sport around the world.
“From the professional World Snooker Tour, to prestigious amateur competitions, China has been a key partner to the WPBSA for a significant time and I have seen first-hand the huge potential for disability snooker in China.
“Da has an outstanding record in engaging people with disabilities in China and I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together over the coming years.”
