International snooker returns to Pakistan

KARACHI: International snooker returned to Pakistan after 22 years with the inauguration of the World 6-Reds and Team Championships 2015 for men, women and masters here at Hotel Movenpick on Thursday.
A colourful and musical evening marked the celebration of the occasion as Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Riaz Hussain Pirzada, alongwith other dignitaries, cut the ribbon and then played a few shots at the snooker table to formally declare the championships open.
The presence of the cueists from all the participating 18 countries, dressed in their respective national blazers, added grace to the arena which was tastefully decorated.
The countries being represented include Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, China, Egypt, England, Hong Kong, Iran, Latvia, Malaysia, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) president Alamgir Anwar Shaikh in his welcome address acknowledged the support of the various stakeholders in making the mission of bringing back international snooker to Pakistan possible.
“Indeed it was an uphill task but we were fortunate to have been blessed by individuals and institutions who remained supportive to our cause and we are mighty pleased to have done it,” he observed.
Maxime Cassis, Vice President, International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF), who is also the President of the European Billiards and Snooker Association (EBSA), vowed to continue supporting the cause of Pakistan snooker.
“To us, sports is above politics and every other thing. That’s why the IBSF facilitated the PBSA in every possible manner to ensure maximum participation here. It’s very heartening indeed that so many teams have assembled in this magnificent arena,” he remarked.
Federal IPC Minister Pirzada also expressed his pleasure at the revival of international sports in the country. “This should be the beginning of a new era. With the security and other issues behind us, we should be playing host to many other sports events in the near future. There has been a dramatic improvement in the country’s law and order situation and we are confident to have many more international competitions here,” he stated.
He commended the fantastic performance of Pakistan’s cueists in the recent past and expressed the hope that their winning streak would continue. “You are the source of inspiration for the millions of people of the country. Your title victories bring smile to their faces,” he said while turning to the cueists present on the occasion. Tahir Ahmed, Managing Director, Jubilee General Insurance, termed it as a Red Letter Day in Pakistan’s sporting history.