Asian Games Teams

Pakistani snookers join training camp for Asiad

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-19 15:53

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani top snooker players joined training camp and started preparation for the upcoming Asian Games in China next month, Pakistan sport board (PSB) official told Xinhua on Monday.

The camp which was inaugurated on Friday will carry on till November 10 at Pakistan sports board complex in the capital of Islamabad.

Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) had named the five cueists on completion of third national ranking tournament for the Asian Games. The announced cueists include Mohammad Sajjad, Imran Shehzad, Sohail Shehzad, Shahram Changezi and Khurram Agha along with manager Shoaib Alam Khan who is also the camp commandant.

"The PBSA has worked out rigorous training schedule for the players aimed at to tune them for the big event with an eye on a medal," said Alamgir Shaikh, President of PBSA.

He said efforts are afoot to hire the services of local coach Mohammad Bilal for the final leg of preparations after government refused to grant No Objection Certificate to an Indian coach Sanjay Sawanth.

The official said the players will undergo at least four hours solo training in the morning followed by match practice in the afternoon for the first fortnight.

"The players would be engaged in a double league during the last 10 days of camp," he added.

He went on to say that special emphasis will be given to physical training.

Director General of the PSB, Amir Hamza Gilani, also visited the camp and urged the players to perform extraordinarily in the games and promised big rewards for.

According to sport board sources, Pakistani contingent of 169 players would take part in the Games scheduled on November 12-27 in Guangzhou, China.