Ng On-yee won her third world title earlier this month ©World Women’s Snooker Tour

Three-time world snooker champion Ng On-yee was named as Hong Kong's best athlete of 2017 at a ceremony in Wan Chai yesterday.

The 27-year-old was given the accolade for the second time after winning her third world title and becoming world number one earlier this month.

She won this year's Women's World Championship in Malta without even dropping a frame, defending her 2017 crown.

Ng, however, insists she is not resting on her laurels and her long-term target remains to take part in more men's events.

She says her immediate goal is to qualify for the main draw of the men's World Championship competition at the Crucible, in the British city of Sheffield, next month.

Ng On-yee is hoping to qualify for the main draw of the men's competition at the Crucible next month ©Getty Images
Ng On-yee is hoping to qualify for the main draw of the men's competition at the Crucible next month ©Getty Images

According to the South China Morning Post, speaking after receiving her award, Ng said: "Winning the World Championship in 2017 was a great moment for me.

"I had to play until the last shot in the final before beating my opponent, Vidya Pillai [of India].

"Since winning the world title for the first time in 2015, I've become a more mature player.

"I have been playing in more tournaments all around the world.

"I have seen more young faces come up against me and they are finishing on the podium.

"I hope my success can help lift the sport and make it more popular in Hong Kong, for it is a sport that can be played by men and women, young and old."