With IBSF dream on mind, snooker quartet departs for Turkey

Aiming to make Pakistan world champions in snooker once again, a four-member national team has left for Turkey to participate in the IBSF World Snooker Championship, scheduled to be played from October 29 in Antalya, Turkey.

The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) had last week named Mohammad Asif, Zulfiqar Qadir, Babar Masih and Mubashir Raza to represent Pakistan in the tournament.

Asif, who won the title in 2012, said he’s hopeful of repeating the show as he considers himself to be in his top form.

“I have prepared well for the world championship, and the victory at the National Ranking Championship has boosted my confidence. I’m hopeful of a better show this time,” Asif said ahead of the departure.

Babar and Zulfiqar, who won the Asian Team Championship in June, also said that they are confident ahead of the world championship as "everyone has worked hard".

“We all are well prepared as we have all worked hard. Hopefully, we will get fruitful results in Turkey,” said Zulfiqar, who’s currently Pakistan’s  number-two ranked cueist.

“I am confident of adding another medal to my tally,” said a confident Babar Masih while talking at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport ahead of his departure for Turkey.

Mubashir Raza, who made it to the round of 16 in 2017, said that his game has improved a lot since he last played the IBSF World Championship.

“I have learnt my lessons. I realise what mistakes I made last time and I’m confident of a better performance than before in the world championship,” Raza said.