Asian snooker championships: PBSA expecting 16 countries for 6-Red, team events

13 nations confirm participation through proper documentation.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) has received entries from 13 countries so far for the upcoming Jubilee Insurance Asian 3rd 6-Red event and 2nd Team Championship. The number has risen from the seven announced by the association previously.

Apart from the 13 nations that have provided proper documentation, three more have given verbal affirmation, but their paperwork remains to be processed.

Afghanistan, UAE, Syria, Qatar, India, Thailand, Bahrain, Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Iran, China and Nepal are all set to participate in the aforementioned championships, which will be held in Karachi from August 17-23.

“So far, 13 countries have confirmed their participation with proper documentation,” PBSA President Alamgir Sheikh told The Express Tribune.

“Three more countries – Bahrain, Kuwait and Singapore – have also verbally agreed, but their documentation is yet to be received. We’re pursuing them for the paperwork so that we can get all the details finalised at least a couple of days before the event.”

Hosts Pakistan will be represented by 6-Red defending champion Mohammad Asif, while others include Mohammad Sajjad, Mohammad Asif Toba, Hamza Akbar, Asjad Iqbal, Sohail Shehzad, Abdul Sattar and Shahid Aftab.

‘India’s clearance still in process’ 

Sheikh revealed that they had yet to receive clearance for India from the Interior Ministry and he would soon travel to Islamabad to sort out the matter.

“Hopefully it will be sorted in a couple of days,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PBSA is still awaiting approval for its two standby teams, but the official remains confident that they will be granted permission by the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2014.

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