April 01, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 23, 1429

KARACHI, March 31: Pakistan received a big boost on Monday as the current Asian number three Khurram Hussain Agha was provided special entry for the 24th edition of Asian Snooker Championship to be organised by the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) in Dubai from May 3-10.

During the ACBS Executive Board meeting in Bangkok (Thailand) earlier this year, its Executive Vice President Ali Asghar Valika had put forward the proposal to let the losing semi-finalists compete in the next Asian Championship and it has been approved now, thus making way for Khurram Agha to feature in the Dubai event.

“It’s heartening for us because Khurram is one of the best cueists in the country and that also enhances our chances of winning the championship,” President Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) Asghar Valika, told newsmen.

Besides Khurram, the new national champion Muhammad Sajjad Butt and seasoned cueist Saleh Muhammad will also be representing Pakistan in the upcoming Asian Championship.

The other beneficiary of the new ACBS ruling would be China whose young cueist Jin Long, who was one of the beaten semi-finalists in the 23rd Asian Championship held in Karachi last June, will also be entitled to enter the upcoming Asian event.

Last year’s champion Supoj Saenia of Thailand and runner-up Yasin Merchant of India have already been accorded direct entry for the Dubai gala.

Asghar Valika, who is also an advisor to the UAE Billiards and Snooker Association, further stated that as many as 21 countries have confirmed participation for the 24th Asian Championship.

In the meantime former world number two Saleh Mohammad has flown to Tehran where he will be training and coaching the Iranian junior team for the Asian Under-21 Snooker Championship to be held in Myanmar’s capital Yangon from April 5-10. —APP