IT may not have gone the way she wanted it to but Durban North resident Erin Lazarus said she is still proud of her performance at this year’s Blackball International World Championships.

The 21-year-old, who was part of Team South Africa, took part in the singles, doubles, and team (five women) categories at the cue sport event held in Bridlington in the UK in October.

While she was knocked out in the second round in the singles category and the first round in the doubles category, Lazarus along with her teammates bounced back to claim silver in the team event.

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“At first I was disappointed about my performances, especially in the singles and doubles categories, but I also realised in that moment that it’s okay to lose. In each of the match-ups we came up against French opposition. The lady who beat me in the singles category was French, we then lost to the French team in the doubles and we lost to them in the gold medal match in the team event.

“I was extremely proud of the team because I felt we played well throughout the tournament in the lead-up to the final of the team event. To win a medal at the world champs is a fantastic feeling,” she said.

Lazarus, a first-year student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), added that she has an eye on the next world champs in 2026.

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“Each international competition helps you grow as a player. Whether it’s technique or adapting to game plans it is all beneficial. Playing international opposition also broadens your mind and makes you mentally strong. I’m already thinking about the next world champs and I will be training hard to improve,” she said.

This was her third time representing South Africa in the sport of Blackball pool.

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