New Delhi: The senior Asian Billiards
championship, which was to be held in Karachi, was today
shifted to Indore due to security concerns in Pakistan.
According to the Billiards and Snooker Federation of
India (BSFI) officials, players were reluctant to play in
Pakistan which forced the Asian Confederation of Billiards
Sports (ACBS) to move the event from the country.
India offered to host the event and Indore was chosen as
a venue after a meeting between the officials of BSFI and ACBS
today.
The under-21 Asian Snooker championship will also take
place alongside the main event at the Yashwant Club.
The tournament carrying a prize money of USD 2,500 in
billiards and USD 2,200 in snooker events respectively, will
be held from April 4-13.
Players from 11 countries will be seen in action in the
billiards event while 16 nations will feature in the snooker
event, BSFI vice-president Ravi Tandon told PTI.
"This is for the first time that any major international
tournament will take place in Indore. Defending champion
Pankaj Advani would get direct entry while Geet Sethi and
others would also be seen in action," Tandon said.
ACBS Secretary Syed Mehboob, who is in India to inspect
the venue and other facilities, expressed satisfaction over
the arrangements.
"I have inspected the venue and it is perfectly allright.
Actually it's quite big and facilities are absolutely perfect
like the hotel where players would stay is very neraby.
"They (BSFI) had hosted nationals here earlier and I am
happy with all the arrangements and I am going to convey the
same to other Asian members also. Iam 100 percent confident of
its success," Mehboob said.
Tandon also said that a selection camp will be organised
in Bangalore to pick the Indian team for the event.
"The camp will be organised next month in February," he
said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 06, 2010, 22:28