Sajjad confirmed for World Championship

Mohammad Sajjad to be the third cueist to represent Pakistan in IBSF World Amateur Championship in Syria in December.

KARACHI: Mohammad Sajjad will be the third cueist to represent Pakistan in the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Amateur Championship in Syria due in December.

The cueist joins Pakistan’s top two players Imran Shahzad and Sohail Shahzad in the country’s bid for the world amateur title. The Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) nominated Sajjad, who is ranked number two in Asia, after the Asian number one Issara Kachaiwong pulled out of the championship to participate in the professional events.

The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) had earlier nominated Sajjad for the championship along with Imran and Sohail but he failed to win the national ranking tournament that was the qualifying event for the World Championship.

“The PBSA wanted Sajjad to participate because he is the only cueist in the country who has the temperament that is required in international competitions,” PBSA President Alamgir Shaikh told The Express Tribune. “I have faith in him despite his performance in the national ranking tournament. He deserves this wild card entry.”

Currently, Sajjad is practising at the camp in Islamabad with Khurram Agha, Imran, Sohail and Shahram Changezi who will represent Pakistan in the upcoming Asian Games that will take place in China from November 12.

“It’s a golden opportunity for me and almost a turn of events as I wasn’t expecting to go to Syria,” said Sajjad.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2010.