KARACHI: Pakistan is likely to send one or two cueists in the IBSF world under-18 snooker championship being held in St Petersburg, Russia, from Oct 3 to 11.

Players, who are under 18 years as of Dec 31, 2015, are eligible to take part in the inaugural event.

The world under-18 snooker is a new addition to the IBSF calendar which regularly organises world U-21 event besides competitions for men, women and masters.

Hamza Akbar, Pakistan’s reigning Asian champion, has come through the juniors circuit and in a short span of time has qualified to play the WPBSA circuit in England.

“Pakistan has some good U-18 players who, if given exposure, can win laurels,” Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) president Alamgir Shaikh told Dawn on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, two more internationals and as many domestic events await the cueists during the next four months of the year.

According to the etails, three Pakistani cueists – Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sajjad and Asjad Iqbal – will travel to Bangkok to compete in the 6-Reds world pro-am snooker championship being held there from Sept 7 to 12.

This will be followed by the IBSF world 15-Reds snooker championship taking place in the Egyptian city of Hurghada from Nov 9 to 21.

This will be preceded by two national ranking events – first in September-October and the second in October-November.The second domestic event will form the basis of selection of Pakistan team for the world event.

It is pertinent to mention that only one national ranking event – the 40th National Snooker Championship – had taken place during the first eight months of the calendar.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2015

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