KARACHI: The quartet, who did Pakistan proud at the IBSF World 6-Reds and Team Snooker Championship in the Egyptian city of at Hurghada have dedicated their victories as a gift to the nation on its 70th Independence Day.

“It’s a coincidence that our victories at the world level have come at a time when the 20 million people were busy in commemorating the 70 anniversary that falls on Monday,” they told Dawn after arriving from Cairo the other day.

Pakistan secured three medals — one gold, one silver and one bronze — besides creating history by making the team event final an all-Pakistan affair.

Former world champion Mohammad Asif, Asian 6-Reds champion Mohammad Sajjad, internationals Asjad Iqbal, Babar Masih and junior world champion Mohammad Naseem Akhtar were received by the officials of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) upon their arrival at the Benazir International Airport.

Naseem, meanwhile, left for his hometown of Sahiwal while the others stayed back to compete in the NBP Cup which begins on Tuesday.

“It’s a great moment for all of us that we’ve returned with three medals from the global event after beating top teams and the cueists,” they said.

Regretting the step-motherly treatment meted out to snooker in the country, they said this is evident from the fact that apart from few PBSF officials no one was there to receive them neither the government announce any rewards.

Despite the lukewarm attitude of the government, they vowed to continue the same spirit and bring more laurels to the nation in future.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2017