Snooker: Cueists Majid, Hunain sent to Thailand

Federation wants youngsters to be ‘serious contenders’.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) continued with its policy of investing in its players as it decided to send Mohammad Majid and Hunain Amir to Thailand for a 21-day coaching programme.

The decision comes after the return of Asjad Iqbal and Umair Alam from Thailand after the pair attended a training course. PBSA Secretary Munawwar Sheikh said the body will continue to nurture talent.

“We want to be serious contenders in international events and that’s why we’re investing in youth,” Sheikh told The Express Tribune. “This way they’ll be able to improve their game from an early age. The aim is to help players get international exposure so that it can settle their nerves when they take part in events.”

He said that the PBSA is doing its bid by supporting the players, adding that it was now up to the players to make full use of the opportunity.

“Majid and Amir played in the pre quarter-finals of the World U21 Snooker Championship, which is a good sign for us, but there is certainly room to improve on these performances.”

Still waiting for full-time coach

Meanwhile, the PBSA official said that the body was still awaiting approval from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) as it looks to hire a full-time snooker coach.

The names of Indian cueist Yasir Merchant and former world amateur champion Mohammad Yousuf were surfacing to fill the spot if the PSB grants permission and releases the grant. Yousuf was recently given the task to train Majid and Amir for the World U21 Championship at a 10-day training camp.

“We’ll continue to take benefit from Yousuf’s experience and but no decision has been taken on the full-time appointment of anyone.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2012.