| Lova Gontare, president of the Voay association of Madagascar. |
Innovation. Legally created on December 30, 2023, the Voay association of Madagascar will organize the national Blackball championship, this 2024 season. The national summit, which will be played in ten stages, will last from the beginning of February to the end of July. “The seven best ranked in each category will represent the country at the blackball world championship, in Malta, from November 2 to 10,” underlines Lova Gontare, president of the association.
Voay from Madagascar has been affiliated with the International Blackball Federation (IBF) since December 30, and received the invitation for the world championship on January 3. “Malagasy players have potential, to name only their results at the Albi World Cup in 2023, after which Danny Rahary finished fifth. The Big Island fielded eighteen players,” she recalls.
The first stage of the national championship will take place from February 5 to 11 on four sites. The Masters will compete at My Adals in Faravohitra, from February 5 to 10, the seniors at Dreams Lounge in Antsahabe, from February 5 to 9, the Challengers at One More in Antanimora, on February 10, and the U23s as well as the ladies at the Optium in Ankazomanga, February 11.
Licence
Sixteen clubs are affiliated with the national association. The number of licensees currently stands at seventy-three, including thirty-two in the Masters category, sixteen ladies, sixteen in the over-40s and eight juniors. A club in Toamasina has recently obtained its license and is one of the affiliated members of the association. The regional authorities in Antsirabe, Mahajanga and Sambava are currently being explored.
Every player should now have a license to be able to participate in official competitions. As objectives, Voay de Madagascar plans to create a billiards academy which could host competitions of national and international scope. “We want to make people understand that billiards is a sporting and professional activity for those who practice it”, specifies, by way of conclusion, the patron of the association.
Serge Rasanda