KUALA LUMPUR: Lim Kok Leong stayed on course for a clean sweep of two snooker gold medals at the Hanoi Sea Games by advancing to the semi-finals of the singles competition today.
The two-time national champion staved off fierce competition from Siththideth Sakbieng of Laos for a 4-1 (73-0, 83-30, 55-62, 60-48, 70-40) win in the quarter-finals.
The 27-year-old has now assured himself of at least a bronze medal.
But Kok Leong wants to turn it into a brighter one when he takes on former Thai professional Passakorn Suwanawat for a place in the final on Saturday.
Passakorn defeated Win Ko Ko of Myanmar 4-1 in the quarter-finals.
"It is a great honour to beat Siththideth as I had watched him, as a spectator, winning the snooker singles title in 2017 when Kuala Lumpur hosted the Sea Games," said Kok Leong, who clinched the six-red singles gold earlier, when contacted in Hanoi.
"I think I have been playing well enough here, and I hope to maintain my momentum in tomorrow's semi-finals.
"I have to bring out my A-game to beat Passakorn. I have not played him before. It's going to be an interesting match.
"Although I have won the six-red gold, I still want to win another title. I will do my best for the country."
Passakorn, the 2011 Asian champion, was part of the World Snooker Tour from 2006 to 2013.