Indian Open: Akbar rues missed opportunity
Remains perplexed at Indian embassy’s non-issuance of visa
PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
Pakistan’s first professional cueist Hamza Akbar was left disappointed after the Indian embassy did not issue him the visa to participate in the Indian Open, scheduled to begin in Hyderabad later this week.
“It’s really sad that I haven’t been issued the visa by the Indian embassy to participate in Indian Open,” Akbar told The Express Tribune before revealing that he had submitted all the required documents on time.
“I was expecting the visa to be issued on time as all the documents were attached but yet my request was ignored. They [Indian embassy] haven’t replied and nor have they sent back the passport,” he added.
Akbar awaits Indian visa
Akbar, who features in the professional world snooker circuit, also lamented the fact that his withdrawal from the event would also cost him financially. “The $2,000 which I would have gotten had I participated have also been withdrawn.”
However, the 23-year-old does not want to spend too much time on ruing the missed opportunity and is already focusing on his next assignment in Germany.
Akbar vows to come back stronger
But to be able to keep himself afloat in Europe, he needs more resources and needs IPC Sports Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada to stick to his words of releasing the Rs2.5 million prize money he is entitled to after winning the Asian Snooker Championship last year.
“To be able to keep playing in the UK before the next competition, I need money. Time and again I’ve reminded Pirzada and the Pakistan Sports Board that they had promised to release my money but to no avail,” he added. “It’s getting difficult for me to focus on my game. When you have other distractions, your game suffers.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2016.
Pakistan’s first professional cueist Hamza Akbar was left disappointed after the Indian embassy did not issue him the visa to participate in the Indian Open, scheduled to begin in Hyderabad later this week.
“It’s really sad that I haven’t been issued the visa by the Indian embassy to participate in Indian Open,” Akbar told The Express Tribune before revealing that he had submitted all the required documents on time.
“I was expecting the visa to be issued on time as all the documents were attached but yet my request was ignored. They [Indian embassy] haven’t replied and nor have they sent back the passport,” he added.
Akbar awaits Indian visa
Akbar, who features in the professional world snooker circuit, also lamented the fact that his withdrawal from the event would also cost him financially. “The $2,000 which I would have gotten had I participated have also been withdrawn.”
However, the 23-year-old does not want to spend too much time on ruing the missed opportunity and is already focusing on his next assignment in Germany.
Akbar vows to come back stronger
But to be able to keep himself afloat in Europe, he needs more resources and needs IPC Sports Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada to stick to his words of releasing the Rs2.5 million prize money he is entitled to after winning the Asian Snooker Championship last year.
“To be able to keep playing in the UK before the next competition, I need money. Time and again I’ve reminded Pirzada and the Pakistan Sports Board that they had promised to release my money but to no avail,” he added. “It’s getting difficult for me to focus on my game. When you have other distractions, your game suffers.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2016.