World Individual Championship: Pakistan cueists begin training in Karachi

The IBSF mega event will take place in Egypt from Nov 10-21

KARACHI: The Pakistan snooker team, comprising of Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sajjad, Shahram Changezi and Abdul Sattar, has begun its training camp at the Movenpick Hotel Karachi for the IBSF World Individual Championship, scheduled to take place from November 10-21 in Egypt.

It is the first time that the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) will be fielding four players and they believe that the necessary funds will be arranged in time.

According to PBSA President Alamgir Sheikh, the association is doing all it can but it is up to the players to deliver results. “It’s regrettable to inform that none of our players train for eight to 10 hours in a day unlike the top players from around the globe,” Sheikh told The Express Tribune.

“I’ve told our players this personally and publicly and it’s time that they get serious about it if they want to play at the highest level. The reason we arranged such a long camp is because we want our players to train continuously for a longer period.”

Sheikh said that even though Pakistan are doing well in the IBSF competitions, higher goals needed to be set by players following youngster Hamza Akbar’s move to the professional circuit.

The PBSA chief added that if the scenario turned sour and funds could not be arranged in time, they would do something on their own and will send the players regardless.

The team is scheduled  to travel to Egypt on November 9.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2015.

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