World pool champs Laquiesha and Aaliyah Clifford and mum Janine.
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From Glen Eden to South Sioux City Nebraska, two sisters have taken their pool talents to the world stage, claiming the top spots at this year’s junior championship.
A journey that started five years ago has now led Laquiesha, 15, and Aaliyah, 14, Clifford (Ngāpuhi) to victory at the 33rd Annual VNEA World Junior Pool Championships in July.
Laquiesha is now a world champion and younger sister Aaliyah is a runner-up.
“It was our first time going [to world championships] and I didn’t expect us to place high up,” Aaliyah says.
“I think at first the girls didn’t know how to hold a cue,” says mother Janine Clifford.
During their school holiday break, Aaliyah and Laquiesha trained six hours a day, five days a week.
They also attended training camps where they were mentored by world-class coaches to prepare for the tournament.
Despite winning the title of ‘world champion’, Laquiesha was not immune to the competition nerves.
“She was quite nervous being on a world stage,” Janine says.
Aaliyah was sick during the competition but pushed through her illness to place second in her age group. She says her coach’s voice echoed in her head as motivation.
The pair also had the opportunity to play together as a team. “It was easy” playing in a team together, Aaliyah says.
“Just because we know what to do.”
Aaliyah admits her highlight was making friends from other countries.