KARACHI: Two-time world snooker champion and Pakistan’s top cueist Mohammad Asif has called upon the government to support the baize game and work towards motivating the youth to ensure more global laurels for the country.

“Its time for cricketer-turned Prime Minister Imran Khan to order reforms in the country’s sports both in cash and kind so that sportspersons can help lift country’s image,” he told Dawn after returning from the Turkish coastal city Antalya on Monday where he recaptured the men’s title in the IBSF World Snooker Championship on Saturday.

Asif, who was ably rewarded by the government with the Pride of Performance after he scaled new heights by winning his maiden world title in Bulgaria in 2012, regretted that only few cueists were employed while many other talented players were jobless and found it difficult to spare time for rigorous training.

“Our cueists are second to none in the world and have proved their mettle at all levels, be it world or regional or 6-Reds shorter version or team event,” he said proudly.

He said cueists need support in shape of employment and rewards from the government on winning honours and enhancement in prize money in domestic competition so that they can focus on improving their skill.

“Former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf presented Rs1.5m while former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif awarded Rs1m after I did Pakistan proud seven years back,” said Asif.

It is pertinent to mention that Asif has two world team titles under his belt. First he teamed up with Mohammad Sajjad to clinch the title in Ireland in 2013 while he paired with Babar Masih to lift the same title in Egypt in 2017.

A native of Faisalabad, 37-year-old Asif said after winning back-to-back domestic titles — the NBP Cup and the Jubilee Insurance third ranking event — he was in high spirit and played his original game from first match to the final.

“My morale had gone high after the 7-0 triumph against the Thai in the semi-final,” he said.

The former national champion went on to say that Pakistan has bright future in the game and many players were in line to follow suit.

Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) life chairman Asghar Valika also hailed Asif’s success in Turkey.

“It’s a great achievement and an unmatched one in Pakistan,” he said.

Valika, who is considered as a fatherly figure in snooker in the country, said the government should open its eyes and do away with the step-motherly treatment with the sport.

He urged upon the government to remove red tape by sanctioning special grants, extending support in order to keep the country’s flag high in the days to come.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2019