IBSF World Snooker Championship: Bilal targets title next year

National champion impressed on debut after reaching quarter-final stage

KARACHI: National champion Mohammad Bilal is confident he will win the IBSF World Snooker Championship next year following an impressive debut at the amateur world event, which concluded on Tuesday in Doha.

The Mandi Bahauddin-based cueist was the most successful Pakistani at the event reaching the quarter-finals and also remained undefeated till his quarter-final loss to Welshman Andrew Pagett.

Mohammad Asif and Babar Masih, who formed the rest of the Pakistani contingent, exited the tournament at the last-32 stage.



And while Bilal is already looking forward to a better performance next year, he feels inexperience played its part in his quarter-final exit.

“I had little idea about the other players; definitely there was pressure on me. But now I have the experience and my performance has given me a lot of confidence. I think the title will be within my reach when I will return to the competition next year,” he said.

In addition to inexperience, Bilal also feels that the absence of a coach to lead the Pakistan squad cost the team.



“Coaches make a difference. The results could have been different if we had a proper coach. Pakistan cueists can do much better if they get a professional coach on a permanent basis,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bilal revealed that he is looking forward to defending his national crown, with the tournament set to begin in February next year. “I want to retain my title and I have already started my preparations.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2016.

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