Asian U21 Championship: New faces to feature in continental event

The preferred participants dropped due to age limit

KARACHI: Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) president Alamgir Sheikh is confident that a new lot of junior players will do well in the Asian U21 Championship which begins today.

Pakistan will be represented by national junior champion Muhammad Raheem, runner-up Abdul Raheem and Amir Tariq.

It should be mentioned here the Pakistan was heavily relying on Muhammad Majid Ali and Hamza Akbar to participate in the junior international championships however, both Hamza and Majid have now passed the age limit and thus the federation had to field alternate options.

"I still believe that these youngsters have the capability to do well at the Asian U21 Championship," Sheikh told The Express Tribune. "Though they do not have as much experience as Majid and Hamza but they are certainly capable to fight for honours."

 

Asif’s prize money dilemma still unsolved

Muhammad Asif burst onto the international amateur snooker championship scene by winning the IBSF World Championship in 2012 and followed it with the Asian 6-Red title the following year.

If this was not enough for the authorities to realise his potential, Asif along with Muhammad Sajjad, claimed the maiden IBSF World Team Championship title as well.

But with no appreciation from the government and rewards only coming from the private sector, the cueists’ form declined as his attention was split between the non-payment of the Rs2million prize money and the game.

Despite meetings with the authorities and the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, only a Rs500,000 grant was approved by the PM a few months, which was rejected by the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA), who termed the meagre payment ‘disgusting’.

“The first question I get from media is that whether or not I’ve received my prize money or is there any chance for such development,” Asif told The Express Tribune while practicing at the NBP Sports Complex ahead of Asian Senior Championship to be held in Malaysia later this month.

“It feels like that it’s not only me who is curious now but others as well who want to hear that the government has honoured me. I’ve still not given up the hope that soon the government would realise what I’ve achieved and will receive the credit accordingly.”

Asif, along with Hamza Akbar and Shahram Changezi, will participate in the Asian event after undergoing a 15-day preparatory camp and is eager to win the title.

“I’m focused on winning this upcoming Asian Championship to add another title to my collection. There has been a gap of more than 18 months since I last won a big tournament so I’m really motivated to do well,” he added.

 

 

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