Sawant denied NOC

KARACHI: Pakistan cueists are unlikely to get the services of a coach to prepare for next month’s Asian Games after India’s Sanjay Sawant was refused the NOC to visit Pakistan. Sawant was appointed as Pakistan coach for the Asian Games and the World Amateur Championship scheduled in December and was awaiting NOC from the Pakistan interior ministry and ministry for foreign affairs before he could hold his first training camp here.

The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) President Alamgir Sheikh said that since there was little time left before the event, the cueists will have to prepare on their own.

“We were banking on Sawant but unfortunately he was not granted the NOC. There is almost no time left now and the cueists will have to prepare on their own,” Sheikh told The Express Tribune.

However, the PBSA chief was hopeful that cueists can still do well in both the events.

“It’s a setback but we are optimistic of our chances because our cueists have done well in other major events without a coach,” said Sheikh while adding that Mohammad Sajjad has been in good form after he finished runner-up in the Asian Snooker Championship before winning the Korat Cup in Thailand.

Meanwhile, Sheikh said that a camp for the Asian Games will be set up in Islamabad later this month while the team will be announced soon as well.

“The players will start training in Islamabad from October 15 and the squad for the Asian Games will be named soon.”

Published in The Express Tribune October 4^th, 2010.