Snooker academy to be set up in Karachi

PBSA chief terms decision vital for promoting the sport.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) is all set to establish a national academy in Karachi by December.

According to the PBSA President Alamgir Sheikh, the establishment of the academy had become essential in order to promote and develop the sport in the country.

“It’s essential for promoting snooker in Pakistan,” Sheikh told The Express Tribune. “The Pakistan Sports Board has agreed to grant us Rs1.5 million for it. We have it all planned but the tricky part will be to get the required land where we can establish it.

“The academy will not only groom players but it can also be used as an alternative to the Islamabad Snooker Academy where the players practice before every international tournament. We’ll also use it for staging ranking tournaments in the future.”

Sheikh also revealed that the PBSA plans on establishing an academy in Lahore as well. In addition, the association, in collaboration with a Chinese company, is procuring four international standard snooker tables for the academy.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan number one Mohammad Sajjad has welcomed the decision to set up the academy, saying that it will help the country’s cueists in improving their game.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2011.