KARACHI: The newly-elected president of the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS), Hani Khoury of Jordan, will visit South Korea in the near future to hold deliberations with organisers of 2014 Incheon Asian Games and to decide the fate of baize game.

The XVII Asian Games are slated to be held from Sept 19 to Oct 4, 1014.

A decision in this regard was taken at the first board meeting of the ACBS which met at Dubai recently after the biennial elections that took place at Doha in April.

The baize game became medal sport in the Asian Games at Bangkok in 1998 and was held in the subsequent three games but the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) opted against its further inclusion.

“The ACBS has decided to carry forward the vision of its former President Sindhu Pulsirivong,” senior vice-president Asghar Valika told Dawn on Friday.

Valika, who returned from Dubai the other day, said the board proposed to offer post of honorary chairman to Sindhu in recognition of his two-decade contribution for the uplift of game in the region.

It is pertinent to mention that Asia has produced three world champions during the last five years and its membership strength has risen to 37.

Unfolding other decisions, the ACBS official added that the prize money of the Asian Championship has been doubled — from US Dollars 2,000 to 4,000 — which will be enforced from next year. Similarly, the Asian under-21 and Asian 6-Redball snooker purse will be enhanced by 50 percent, he added.

He said the honorarium of referees who will supervise the Asian championship will be doubled from next year.

The board, he said, has given its nod to Pakistan for hosting the Asian 6Redball snooker between March 1 to 15 next year. They have been asked to make foolproof security arrangements for players and delegates, he added.

Valika, who served as president ACBS for six years, said the board also approved amendments in its constitution whereby president, senior vice-president, secretary and treasurer will be elected. He said four vice-presidents would be nominated on board aimed at giving representation to all regions, he added.

He disclosed that in the first step, representatives of Iran, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and China were nominated vice-president on the board.

Besides, the meeting decided to review the sponsorship deals with sports goods manufacturers Shender, Viraka etc. It was also decided to hold two board meetings of ACBS in a year instead of one.