RECENTLY, Pakistan won the gold and silver medal in the IBSF World men’s team snooker championship as both Pakistani teams made it to the final.

It was the first time in the team snooker category that two teams from the same country played the final. Naseem Akhtar also won the IBSF world Under-18 snooker championship recently.

In addition to this, players from our country won six gold medals in the South Asian karate championship. That made 10 medals in 60 days, including three gold medals (two world titles) by our snooker players.

What is disappointing to see is that none of the government high-ups bothered to receive these players who have brought these laurels to the country. Such an attitude by the government highlights the sorry state of sports in our country.

While the cricketers continue to receive countless awards by the government, the neglect shown to the snooker players compels one to ask: are they not national heroes?

Muneeb Faisal

Lahore

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2017