Latest news with #AudreyChua
Straits Times
07-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Singapore's Venus Lim claims 10-ball title at Commonwealth Billiards C'ships
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Singapore's Venus Lim (left) won the Commonwealth Billiards Championships 10-ball title, while compatriot Audrey Chua was second in the snooker competition. SINGAPORE – Down 2-5 in a race to seven racks within 100 minutes, Singapore's Venus Lim found herself with a mountain to climb in the Commonwealth Billiards Championships women's 10-ball final against India's two-time world snooker champion Chitra Magimairaj. But the 22-year-old pulled off a remarkable comeback in Mauritius on July 6 to tie the score at 5-5, before prevailing 4-2 in a shoot-out to score the biggest triumph of her career. She told The Straits Times: 'I took a timeout at 2-5 down and told myself to cool down, take my chances for each ball and rack, and enjoy the process. I controlled my breathing and tried to concentrate on the game and not on the rack difference. 'But as much as I wanted to fight back, I also thought the three-rack deficit was too much to overcome. Furthermore, she has just the nine and 10-ball to clear in the eighth rack to move within a rack of victory. 'I thought she would pot them, but she left the nine-ball hanging around the pocket. I took my chances well and fought back into the match to take it to the penalty shoot-out.' After dabbling in bowling and badminton, Lim found a new interest on the baize after being introduced to pool by her older brother when she was 17. Upon graduating with a diploma in applied chemistry from Republic Polytechnic, she began playing pool full-time in March. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Eligible S'poreans to get up to $850 in GSTV cash, up to $450 in MediSave top-ups in August Singapore Four golf courses to close by 2035, leaving Singapore with 12 courses Singapore Fewer marriages in Singapore in 2024; greater marital stability for recent marriages Singapore Construction starts on Cross Island Line Phase 2; 6 MRT stations in S'pore's west ready by 2032 Asia 72-year-old man on diving trip to Pulau Tioman in Malaysia found dead on the beach Singapore $1.46b nickel scam: Ng Yu Zhi opts to remain silent after judge calls for his defence Asia Bali flights nixed after huge Indonesia volcano eruption Life How to cope with the heat when travelling: 5 expert-backed tips She said: 'At first, I was just curious about how this sport works, and was not really passionate about pool. But over time, I realised I have some talent and it brings me so much joy when I take my cue out and play. 'To win this final feels unreal, and I feel so happy with my first overseas win and I hope there is more to come.' Compatriot Audrey Chua also recorded her best result in her budding career, as the 37-year-old reached the snooker final at the same event at The Ravenala Attitude Balaclava, before losing 2-0 to England's world No. 5 Rebecca Kenna. The Catholic High School primary school teacher played pool when she was an undergraduate, but started snooker only in 2025. She said: 'I'm still taking it all in, and it feels quite surreal. I honestly didn't expect to reach my first final, especially since I started playing snooker only five months ago. It's definitely a milestone I'll treasure. Although I lost 2–0, the experience was invaluable. Competing with someone of Rebecca's calibre was both humbling and deeply inspiring. 'Snooker is quite different as it required me to relearn many things, like adjusting my stance, changing my stroke, and getting used to the larger table. Balancing training with a full-time teaching job is also challenging, but it's been incredibly rewarding.' Lim and Chua's breakthrough is a welcome boost for the Singapore women's cuesports scene, as they aim to represent the Republic at more international tournaments. Cuesports Singapore president Christopher Chuah said: 'While our male athletes like Aloysius Yapp (pool), Peter Gilchrist (English billiards) and Jaden Ong (snooker) are continuing to fly our flag high in the international arena, our ladies have proven that they are also up to the mark. 'Audrey Chua reached the finals and lost out only to a former professional snooker player, while Venus went one step further to clinch gold for Singapore in a nail-biting finish against a top Indian pool player. Their performance augurs well for Singapore and will undoubtedly spur our other female athletes to attain greater heights in the international arena.'
The Star
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Theatre is stealing the spotlight this month in the Klang Valley
This month, the Klang Valley's theatre scene is buzzing – with a major Taiwanese production, a classic revival of Jit Murad's work, and an intimate dance-theatre piece unfolding in a small community hall on the outskirts of Selangor. Here are a few shows to look out for. In 'TaTaTa', Audrey Chua (left) and Anne James bring to life two generations, shaped by director Lai Wen Xin's personal story of her relationship with her grandmother. Photo: Low Pey Sien Venue: Dewan Serbaguna Seri Kembangan, Selangor Here's a show, presented by the Kongsi Petak collective, that takes you straight to the heart of a small town community. Part performance, part memory capsule, TaTaTa transforms the rustic Dewan Serbaguna Seri Kembangan into a stage where memories and generations meet. Marking Lai Wen Xin's directorial debut and performed by Anne James and Audrey Chua, this interdisciplinary piece weaves together theatre, dance, and multimedia to explore the emotional distance between the elderly and the young. The result is a tender, thought-provoking work that invites audiences to reflect on what it truly means to grow older. SALAM STAGE: A LIVE STORYTELLING EVENT Venue: PJ Live Arts, Jaya One, Petaling Jaya This free admission event, presented by Initiate and Freedom Film Fest, hands the mic – and the theatre stage – to stories that matter. "Salam Stage" is a live storytelling event (in English and Bahasa Malaysia) that foregrounds raw, personal accounts of courage, resilience, and hope, shared by Malaysians confronting the realities of rising extremism and a narrowing civic space. These aren't just performances – they're lived experiences, told in the spirit of resistance and healing. It's a timely call to gather, to listen deeply, and to imagine new, collective paths toward a more just and inclusive society. You'll want to book your seats fast – spaces are limited. In 'Dracula: A Comedy Of Terrors', Joe Wyatt directs and also sinks his teeth into the role of Dracula himself. Photo: Limelight Theatre 'DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS' Venue: DPAC, Petaling Jaya If you're after a good laugh and a fun night out, this might be your ticket. Dracula: A Comedy Of Terrors flips Bram Stoker's iconic vampire tale into a whirlwind of slapstick, puns, and unapologetic theatrical mayhem. The show is presented by Limelight Theatre, one of Kuala Lumpur's newest theatre companies, with a focus on farce and comedic storytelling. Expect lightning-fast role swaps, mistaken identities, and a gothic setting that gleefully unravels into chaos. With a razor-sharp script, the show channels the spirit of The 39 Steps and Young Frankenstein — a riotous treat for audiences of all ages. All eyes are on the international premiere of Apostate at KLPac – its first show outside Taiwan. The 2023 production won the Grand Prize at the 22nd Taishin Arts Award and the Jury Prize at the 35th Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan. A collaboration between Approaching Theatre and Gang-a Tsui Theater, Apostate weaves a Song Dynasty envoy's story with a modern prisoner's dilemma, exploring loyalty to family and State. Performed in Mandarin, with some Quanzhou dialect and English surtitles, the 12-actor show blends traditional Nanguan opera – Unesco-listed since 2009 – with contemporary soundscapes and multimedia design. It also marks the homecoming of Taiwan-based Malaysian director Koh Choon Eiow, an Asian Cultural Council grantee. The JitFest2025 celebration continues this month with 'Visits', directed by Ida Nerina and starring (from left) Sofia Jane, Nabila Huda and Nadia Aqilah. Photo: DramaLab Venue: Nero Event Space, PJPAC, Petaling Jaya Directed by Ida Nerina and starring Sofia Jane, Nadia Aqilah, and Nabila Huda, this new production breathes fresh life into one of the late theatre legend Jit Murad's most poignant works. Visits, which premiered in 2002, is a sharply observed, darkly funny play that brings together three women at a high-end mental health retreat. A patient, her sister-in-law, and an enigmatic nurse cross paths in a surreal space where memory, identity, and power slowly unravel. This upcoming Visits show at PJPAC is part of JitFest 2025, organised by DramaLab. A timely revival that strikes a perfect balance between humour and heartbreak, delivering its message with stunning clarity. 'WILL YOU BE MY WITNESS?' Venue: Black Box, DPAC, Petaling Jaya Arts collective lowercase laboratories returns with Will You Be My Witness?, a theatrical dance performance, produced and directed by Low Yee Choy, that explores our deep human desire to be seen. Beginning with everyday rituals like brushing teeth and scrolling through phones, the piece soon spirals into a world of hypervisibility, digital overload, and emotional fragmentation. Inspired by the question, 'If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?', the performance uses striking visuals and physical storytelling to explore themes of identity, conformity, and the quiet craving for validation. Venue: Auditorium MBSA, Shah Alam Here's a chance to catch emerging talent in Bahasa Malaysia theatre. Rubiah, a musical, presents the staging of a drama work, written by Samoza, and directed and adapted by Dr Aminah Rhapor. A collaborative effort with JKKN Selangor, Persona Mantera, and MBSA. The play tells the story of Rubiah, a pure-hearted young woman raised with love and religious guidance. She is torn between her childhood friend Alang and a proposal from Daeng, a wealthy nobleman of high status. Amid slander and worldly temptations, Rubiah searches for a love blessed by God.
