Chinese snooker sensation Ding Junhui poses for a poster to promote the upcoming Snooker World Championship April,19,2007 in Sheffield,England. [Photo: China Foto Press]

Chinese snooker prodigy Ding Junhui has been named one of the torch bearers for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

News from Beijing based newspaper, the First, said the 20-year-old cueist will join former Chinese gymnast Sang Lan among the first batch of torch bearers, which have been confirmed by the Beijing organizing committee for the 2008 Olympic Games.

According to BOCOG, a total of 21,780 torch bearers from home and abroad will participate in the 130-day torch relay for the Games, covering 135 cities around the world.

The official solicitation for the torch bearers will kick off this June.