FAISALABAD, Dec 5: People belonging to all walks of life accorded a warm welcome to the world snooker title winner Mohammad Asif when he reached his home town Faisalabad on Wednesday.

People including traders, sportsman, shopkeepers and vendors jam-packed the streets to shower rose petals on the brilliant cueist at the Clock Tower intersection, Jhang Road and in his native locality Kausar Abad.

The district government also organised a welcome reception and acting DCO Waheed Akhtar garlanded and greeted him.

The DCO also gave a check of Rs100,000 to Asif and announced honorary membership of the Chenab Club for the star champion. He also announced setting up a snooker training academy in Faisalabad.

Asif’s family also greeted him with excitement, clapping and shouting throughout. As a result of the warm welcome accorded to Asif, it took more than three hours for him to reach home as hundreds of fans surronded his car which was stopped at different places.

Talking to reporters Asif stressed the need for promoting snooker in the country and asked the authorities to ensure jobs and other facilities for the players.

Asif could not stay much longer with the media after he was informed that his cousin Umer, 16, had met with an accident on Jhang Road. The boy, riding a motorcycle, collided with a car while attempting to reach Asif to greet him over the win. His condition was stated as stable.