Sajjad, Asif rewarded by IPC sports ministry

Cueists receive Rs2.5m and Rs1m respectively

KARACHI: The Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Sports Ministry has awarded Rs2.5 million to national cueists Mohammad Sajjad and Rs1 million to Mohammad Asif for their various achievements on the Asian as well as global level.

The long-standing payment — which is only a part of the total amount to be paid — came after the issue of pending cash awards on the government’s part was taken up by Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) President Alamgir Sheikh in a meeting with Federal Secretary Sports Ejaz Choudhry in Islamabad.

Sheikh was accompanied by Asif, Sajjad and Hamza Akbar, while Sports Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Joint Secretary IPC Khalid Mahmud Mirza and Pakistan Sports Board officials Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera and Muhammad Azam Dar also attended the meeting.

Pirzada lauded the efforts of the PBSA and achievements of the players along with assuring Hamza that he would also be presented with a cheque of Rs2 million soon for winning the Asian Championship recently.

Meanwhile, PBSA chief Sheikh briefed the officials that Hamza’s triumph at the Asian Championship ensured his direct qualification for the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) Professional Circuit for the World Snooker Tour.

His participation in the WPBSA Professional Circuit would require a substantial amount of Rs2.5 million for travelling, accommodation and other expenditures for two years in the UK.

Pirzada assured the PBSA head that the IPC appreciates the achievements of Hamza and that it would definitely consider providing financial assistance to the youngster. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2015.

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