Shaukat keen to repeat gold medal feat in Doha Asian Games

KARACHI—Top snooker professional Shaukat Ali from United Kingdom has said Monday that he was keen to repeat his gold medal feat in Doha Asian Games in December after bringing the laurels for the country in 1998 Bangkok Asiad.
"It would be my and my team's objective to strike the gold in the Asian Games and bring the glory and honor for the country," Pakistan's player cum snooker coach told APP in an interview on his arrival in Pakistan. "Its bit difficult but not impossible task" Shaukat ranked 45 in world professional circuit said.
Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has hired the services of Shaukat Ali to train and coach Pakistan snooker team for Asian Games besides playing in Asian Games.
He however said he was highly disappointed not to receive even a single congratulatory letter from Pakistan Government or national olympic committee and what to talk of cash incentives despite winning the first-ever gold snooker singles gold in Bangkok Asian Games eight years ago.
"Just to represent Pakistan I got dual nationality but no one except few lauded my achievements," Shaukat Ali said.
He said he came to represent Pakistan at the invitation of PBSA President Asghar Valika and doing so again for the sake of the country.
36-year-old Shaukat, whose family hails from near Mirpur in Azad Kashmir, said Khurram Agha and Naveen Perwani are good players with some exposure in UK they can be developed into quality players.
"Yousuf is also a solid player but he has past his prime," he maintained.
"Coach can only teach players finer points and polish their game. But they can lift their game by playing at the highest competitive level," he remarked.
"Chinese and Thais are very strong snooker nations and they will offer great challenge to all the teams," he pointed. He said Asians emerging fast in snooker and particularly Chinese, several of them are now playing in the professional circuit in UK.
He said Marco Fu of China Hong kong and Ding Hue of China strong snooker singles gold medal contenders in Asian Games to be staged in Qatar from December 1 to 15.
Three gold will be at stake in snooker singles, doubles and team competition in Asian Games.
While Sri Lanka Henry Boteju is supervising the billiards camp at Snooker Zone Club Tariq Road, Snooker camp is being conducted at Karachi Club's Amir Bakhsh Billiards Hall under Shaukat Ali.
After winning a gold and two bronze medals in Bangkok Asian Games, Pakistan was contended with just two bronze medals in Busan Asiad.—Agencies