IBSF World Championship: Sajjad confident of chances in Egypt

Pakistan quartet set to depart with hopes of bringing the title home

KARACHI: As Pakistan’s snooker quartet prepares to leave on Sunday for the IBSF World Individual Championship in Egypt, veteran cueist Mohammad Sajjad feels both he and Mohammad Asif have what it takes to deliver the prestigious title.

Apart from the two seniors, Shahram Changezi and Abdul Sattar will also travel for the event as the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) fields four players in a world championship for the first time.

Sajjad, who finished the runner-up in the competition’s last edition, feels that this could once again be Pakistan’s year after Asif won it in 2012.

World Individual Championship: Pakistan cueists begin training in Karachi

“I strongly believe that a Pakistani will go on to become world champion, especially either me or Asif,” Sajjad told The Express Tribune. “We’re in good touch, and Asif has recently won back-to-back titles in the national circuit.”

With all the limelight surrounding Asif and Sajjad, Changezi and Sattar would go as underdogs, something that can work in the latter duo’s favour.

“My aim is to play for the title rather than settling for half-hearted objectives like reaching the knockout stages,” said Changezi. “Being low on the radar as compared to Asif and Sajjad might help me sneak past my opponents before the real battles commence.”

Changezi commended the recently concluded training camp’s arrangements in Karachi, saying that the PBSA’s investment in the game is a good sign. He added that the addition of a coach — even a local one — can reap greater benefits for Pakistan snooker.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2015.

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