KARACHI: The domestic snooker scene of the year will commence with the co-hosting of Jubilee Insurance second national under-18 and ninth national under-21 snooker championships at the PSB Sports Complex in Islamabad from January 16 to 26.

The details of the events and annual calendar were announced by the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) at a press conference at Karachi Gymkhana here on Thursday.

“We’ve waived the entry fee of Rs500 per player per event this time in addition to providing free boarding and lodging to participants aimed at lessening the burden,” newly elected PBSF president Munawwar Hussain Sheikh said while addressing his first press conference.

Featuring 32 cueists apiece, both the competitions carry a matching prize money of Rs130,000. The winner of each event will get Rs50,000 while the runners-up will receive Rs25,000 apiece.

The winner of national under-18 event will represent the country in the IBSF world under-18 championship in China while the winner of national under-21 event will compete in the 18th Asian under-21 snooker championship in India and IBSF under-21 event in China.

Besides, top two cueists of each event will qualify for the 42nd national snooker championship being held here in March.

Munawwar, who had served as secretary of the PBSF for eight years before being elevated to the post of president, paid glowing tributes to his predecessor Alamgir Shaikh for taking the game to new heights during his tenure (2008 to 2016).

He expressed his optimism to follow in his (Alamgir’s) footsteps and carry the game forward from where he had left.

Alamgir, who was also present on the occasion, threw light on the achievements when he was at the helm of affairs.

He individually thanked all his team members, including the life chairman Asghar Valika, minister for Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Riaz Hussain Pirzada and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for their wholehearted support.

The former PBSF president also refuted allegations of the veteran world amateur snooker champion Mohammad Yousuf for not considering him in the IBSF Master’s competition at Doha and sending an outsider in the recent past.

Speaking on the occasion, the managing director of Jubilee Insurance Tahir Ahmed termed the snooker fraternity like a ‘family’ where three generations were working together. This is evident from the smooth transition of power, he remarked.

He vowed to continue his support to the game in future also.

At the outset, secretary of the PBSF Zulfiqar Ramzi welcomed the guest.

Later, the PBSF decorated long-time sponsor of the game Tahir Ahmed and Alamgir Shaikh with the gold medals for their contributions amid applause.

The ceremony was also attended among others by the president of Karachi Gymkhana Fawad Malik, life member of the PBSF and a former politician Bostan Ali Hoti and PBSF vice-president Abdul Qadir Memon.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2017