KARACHI, April 25: Ali Asghar Valika, chairman of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF), has said that there were a lot of apprehensions pertaining to security when Pakistan’s bid to host the 29th Asian Snooker Championship got the nod in Doha but it seems a reality now.

“Delegates have expressed fears about Pakistan which has been isolated after Sri Lankan cricket team was ambushed in Lahore leaving at least eight people dead in March 2009,” Valika told newsmen at a news conference that was held to unveil details of the annual competition at hotel Sheraton, venue for the event, on Thursday.

He was delighted that the mega event has returned to Pakistan after a span of six years. Former international Khurram Agha did Pakistan proud while securing a bronze in the last Asians held at the same venue in 2007, he added.

Valika, who is also executive vice-president of the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS), said that Hani Khoury, the ACBS president from Jordan, will not be coming to Pakistan due to ill health.

He wished every player a success and hoped the best cueist will win honours.

The former PBSF chief applauded the efforts of incumbent managing committee of the games controlling body for hosting the spectacle.

Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner Karachi, Shoaib Siddiqui, assured full support to the PBSF on behalf of the government.

He hoped the event will earn good name to the country besides building its soft image globally.

Special Assistant to the Sindh chief minister on sports and youth affairs, Islahuddin Siddiqui, said Pakistan has enormous talent which needs support.

He said world amateur snooker champion Mohammad Asif is a role model for the youth and hoped they will benefit from his quality of play.

The former Olympian offered to host a reception in honour of the participants during the event.

Mr Tahir Ahmed and Mr Javed Ahmed, who heads the Jubilee Insurance, termed the event a milestone. “We were proud to be associated with snooker which has started yielding fruitful results,” they said in their speeches separately.

Answering questions, PBSF president, Alamgir Shaikh, said he was waiting confirmation from his Indian counterpart about their travel plan.

“I’ve spoken to Capt Mohan twice who said he was trying to get NOC from his government and not to delete India from the list of participants,” he added.

He hoped that some 15 to 16 countries will compete in the event.

Also present on the occasion were PBSF officials Abdul Wahid Qadir, Jawaid Karim, Munawwar Shaikh and Arif Tahirbhoy.