KARACHI: Pakistan cueist Asjad Iqbal has thanked a month-long training programme he attended in Bangkok, saying that the country had the potential to produce world beaters if such courses were offered to players on a regular basis.
Iqbal, a former national junior champion, along with Umair Alam were sent by the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) to Thailand in order to fine-tune their game in the presence of professional players. Iqbal said the experience has left a deep impact that will prove to be of immense benefit.
“It was an amazing experience because I learnt several important and new things about my game which I used to feel that I had mastered already,” Iqbal told The Express Tribune.
“I can safely say that Pakistan can produce world champions if players get such opportunities to improve their game on a regular basis.”
He said that the experience of being present alongside the world’s finest players will prove vital.
“It gave everyone a chance to know the different styles of play. The snooker tables used in Bangkok were totally different from the ones here as they had heaters below them to keep them free of moisture.”
He explained that such an environment and quality of tables are the best judge of a player’s cue control.
“Coaches have told me that I need to work on my cue control, my grip and how to play safety shots better. I knew my cue control wasn’t the best because tables here are of poor quality and we never get to know the true pace in them.”
Pakistan have also sent two other players, Mohammad Majid and Hunain Amir, to Thailand for a similar course.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2012.
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