KARACHI: The government has announced Pride of Performance for former world amateur snooker champion Mohammad Asif in recognition of his feat at Sofia, Bulgaria, two years ago.

Asif, who beat England’s Gary Wilson 10-8 in the epic final that lasted for over nine hours in two sessions to clinch the title on Dec 2, 2012, become the second cueist to get Pride of Performance after former world champion Mohammad Yousuf.

Veteran cueist Yousuf reached the zenith at Johannesburg in 1994.

“It’s another happiest moment in my life that the government eventually recognised my feat,” an elated Asif told Dawn on Friday.

“I was supposed to get the award last year but my name was dropped at the last moment and broke my heart he said adding “better late than never.”

Asif, the father of two children, said he and other members of the team were looking forward of delivering the goods in the second Asian Team Event and third 6-Reds Snooker Championships which begins at Avari Towers on Sunday.

He thanked the government for bestowing the honour on him and the PBSF president, Alamgir Shaikh, for advocating his case at every forum.

Asif, a native of Faisalabad, hoped that the government will also give his and other cueists cash rewards as per national sports policy soon.

“I was amazed when Commonwealth Games medal winners were given cash prizes soon on their return from Glasgow as our case lingers on,” Asif went on to say that the award has raised confidence of his contemporaries besides opening door for them to scale new heights.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2014