The snub came as a shock after the cueist’s brilliant performance since last year. PHOTO: AYESHA MIR/EXPRESS
IBSF World Amateur Champion and Asian 6-Red snooker winner Mohammad Asif continues to receive a cold shoulder from the government and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) as he has not been nominated for the Pride of Performance Award.
It has been learnt that the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) feels that the Pride of Performance medals announced by the government were not on merit and have requested Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to looking into the matter.
Asif has arguably been the best sportsman in Pakistan in the last 12 months as he has achieved unparalleled success by winning two major titles in a span of six months.
According to the PBSA, the body had been given repeated assurances and confirmation from PSB Director General Amir Hamza Gilani that they have nominated Asif for the Pride of Performance Award.
“It is surprising to note that Asif’s remarkable achievements have been ignored by the present government,” read an official letter from the PBSA.
“The PBSA strongly condemns this discrimination with the sport of snooker, as presently Asif is the only athlete of Pakistan who is holding two major World and Asian titles.”
It should be mentioned that the PSB and Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) had not provided any funds to the PBSA for the world championship last year and the association had to collect funds on their own to send Asif for the event.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 16th, 2013.
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