Farewell Majid: Mourning a Pakistani cueist

Brother Umar reflects on inseparable bond, indelible mark left on world of snooker

KARACHI:

"I still can't believe he's gone. It doesn't feel like he's gone," says Umar, the brother of Pakistani cueist Majid Ali, as he recovers from Majid's suicide on the first day of Eidul Adha, two weeks ago.

"Only Allah knows if it was a suicide or an accident. I feel it was an accident because he was not in control. He was not well, had trouble sleeping for days, and was on medication. People call it suicide, but I believe it was just an accident. It was his time to go," shares Umar, as he tries to come to terms with the loss of his brother. This is particularly challenging in a country and society that does not prioritize mental health as an important aspect of overall well-being.

Majid gained prominence in the public consciousness after his death. Those who closely followed Pakistani snooker knew of Majid's significant and understated achievements. Majid should be remembered as an extraordinary player and as the gentlest of souls to represent Pakistan on the international stage.

The 29-year-old was calm and often quiet, yet fearless and fierce on the snooker table. He confidently faced tough opponents from Thailand, China, and even India, displaying a variety of skills in his game. "Majid had a flair for the game and was very courageous. He was never intimidated by Chinese players, for example. He was very aggressive in his approach," said Naveed Kapadia, an official of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association and an international referee. "He was silent and gentle, and he conducted numerous international training camps in Thailand, Doha, and twice in Pakistan."

Majid was among the first cueists to capitalize on the momentum gained when Muhammad Asif won the IBSF World Championship title in 2012, the first time since Muhammad Yousuf achieved this feat in 1994. He reached the final of the Asian U21 Championship in 2013, a remarkable achievement considering the limited number of Pakistani cueists winning medals at the age-group level. Additionally, he won the bronze medal in the Asian Junior team event alongside Muhammad Bilal, who tragically passed away earlier this year.

"We have lost a great player. He was our future. He was too young to go," said Kapadia, who closely observed the players' growth over the years, emphasizing the magnitude of Majid's loss. "Pakistan rarely won any medals back then. At that time, Majid won the silver medal in the Asian U21 Championship. He performed exceptionally well, losing only on the last pink-black in the final frame. It was the best performance by a Pakistani player at that time."

“Then he won the Asian team event and took the bronze medal with Bilal. He also secured a bronze medal in the World 6-Red Championship in Egypt in 2018, where he was unseeded. He delivered outstanding performances in the National Championships as well. The last National Championship he played was in 2020, and the next one was scheduled for October 2021. I believe that's when he started experiencing mental distress, and subsequently, he did not participate in the 2022-2023 championship."

Umar fondly reminisced about how snooker brought immense joy to Majid's life. It all began when Umar introduced him to the local pool table in Samundri, their hometown in Faisalabad. Despite the small size of their city, Majid's victories in international events elevated his stature, not just for them but for the entire community. Umar vividly recalled the overwhelming reception Majid received upon his return after winning the silver medal in 2013. Reflecting on Majid's consistent nature, Umar remarked, "My brother was consistently good, silent, caring, and considerate towards others. His success made him even more humble and reserved. He was loved by everyone and is remembered with great affection."

Umar recollected how Majid's fascination with snooker grew after initially playing it as a recreational activity. Despite being two years younger, Umar was the one who introduced Majid, who would later become the U21 Asian silver medalist, to the game. "I convinced him to play pool. We would each contribute Rs 0 to play on the four small tables at our local spot. He loved it so much that he decided to find a mentor for himself. He even moved to Faisalabad to live with his teacher, who nurtured his talent. From there, he went to Lahore to compete in the National Championship, around 2011 or 2012. Despite battling typhoid, he reached the final but unfortunately lost."

"The defining trait of my brother was that he was a quiet, kind warrior," Umar stated. "He faced numerous illnesses with patience and continued to work hard." Majid's dedication to the game was unwavering. Umar mentioned that Majid even moved away from the family to pursue snooker. "We played in Samundri and Burewala, but he chose to move to another city. His dedication was strong. Even during the last three years, when he was struggling with his mental health, he always kept the tables of our snooker academy clean and tidy. His cue was always well taken care of. Despite his suffering, he made sure his equipment was clean. He found solace in cleaning snooker-related items until the end," shared Umar.

After achieving success at the national and international levels, Majid opened a snooker club near their house in Samundri in 2014, where he encouraged young people to play. He also secured a job at the National Bank of Pakistan. Umar mentioned that financial matters were not the biggest concern, but running the academy and the club posed challenges. Majid took a loan of Rs 130,000 to invest in it. Umar also helped manage the club, but the increasing inflation and time constraints made it difficult. Umar said, "Majid never lost hope. He wanted to create a better future for the next generations."

According to Umar, Majid's mental health began to deteriorate during the pandemic. "He was struggling, but he rarely spoke about it. We knew he was suffering, receiving treatment, and taking medication."

"There have been numerous instances where I witnessed him pull himself back from the depths of depression. His last tournament was in Lahore, an event sponsored by SA Garden. He reached the pre-quarterfinals before deciding he couldn't continue. Someone approached me to inform me that Majid wasn't playing, and when I approached him, he expressed that he wasn't feeling well. I believe this was in 2021," Umar shared.

Majid had six other siblings, but he was closest to Umar. The two of them were inseparable most of the time. "I spent a lot of time with him, and there was a period when I also struggled mentally. It's just one of those things. But before the pandemic, he was doing great. He even went to the World Championships in Qatar and performed well. He inspired me in many ways," said Umar.

"It wasn't just me; even the maid who cleans our club looked at him as her own son and cried for him at his funeral. Snooker players often teased Majid for eating very little. They would say they would have dinner with Majid because he eats so little but still pays an equal share. My brother also loved tea; he would make sure everyone sitting with him had tea as well. He would offer to pay for food and drinks, taking care of those around him. People loved him," Umar reminisced.

However, Umar felt that the end was unfair. On the eve of Eidul Adha, Umar saw Majid leaving somewhere. When asked, Majid simply stated that he wanted to sit alone in the park. There was a bench there where he would often go. Umar agreed and left him there as he had preparations to make for Eid the following day.

Later, Umar received news that he should rush to his maternal uncle's shop. Their family owned a carpentry business, and there were heavy and sharp equipment present. Umar arrived at the shop to find a large crowd and struggled to reach the center, only to discover Majid covered in blood. He had injuries on his neck and shoulders from a heavy-duty woodcutting machine that pulls objects toward the blade. Filled with fear, Umar checked on him but realized he wasn't moving. He checked again and rushed him to the hospital, where the doctor declared him deceased.

"I saw people making videos of my brother in that shed. They gathered around and even filmed it. But I was too scared to even lift him from the floor," Umar recounted, still discussing the experience as if it were a nightmare, struggling to accept the harsh reality.

Umar mentioned that the night before that fateful day, Majid made sure to massage their mother's feet and spend time with their parents. "He was a good, sensitive man. He never said anything bad to anyone. Even if people criticized him, he wouldn't respond. I feel like I've lost my best friend," said Umar, reflecting on their inseparable bond from childhood. "But I have his favorite cue and his tables, and I will ensure that we donate them to children and use his snooker equipment for a worthy cause because I saw him at his happiest when he played."