Pakistani Snooker Champ Turns Pro

By Parvez Fatteh, Founder of http://sportingummah.com, sports@muslimobserver.com

File:  Mohammad Asif, Pakistani snooker champ.

Pakistan’s world amateur snooker champion Mohammad Asif announced this week that he will turn professional next year after finally securing sponsorship. Pakistani entrepreneur, Nadeem Omar, CEO of Omar Associates, has offered Asif two million rupees to support him as he enters the professional snooker tour.

The 31-year-old Asif won the amateur title by defeating Gary Wilson in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2012. But he has been waiting since for financial assistance in order to fulfil his childhood dream of joining the professional circuit. Asif described himself as “overwhelmed,” by the gesture. He now plans to defend his title in Latvia in November before turning pro. Asif is Pakistan’s second world amateur snooker champion since Mohammad Yousuf won the title in 1994.

Omar said he came to know about Asif’s situation through media reports. “Since he deserved that after winning the world title, I decided to give him his due,” Omar told reporters. Omar also sponsors local cricket teams in Pakistan.

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