Cue for a new Arab Snooker Championships

posted on 12/09/2012: 550 views

The United Arab Emirates Billiards & Snooker Association (UAEBSA) announced that they will be reviving the Arab Snooker Championships, staging the major event at the Dubai Snooker Club on September 15-22.

The edition will be the seventh in the history of the tournament where the UAE will look to add a sixth title.

Sultan Al Joaker, Secretary General of the UAE Billiards & Snooker Association (UAEBSA), said that the UAE has always been seen as a major contributor to the development of table sports in the Arab world.

"There had been no Arab Snooker Championships for the past two years and there were no takers for this year's event as well,” said Al Joaker.

"We were worried that this would impede the development of snooker players in Arab countries, so we decided to take the responsibility at the last minute.

"I am grateful to Apparel Group, UAE National Olympic Committee and Dubai Sports Council for responding positively to our request for funds.”

Al Joaker added that the participation figures (11 teams) in the tournament would have been much higher had it not been for the incomplete visa documents supplied by some of the participating countries.

"Despite the last-minute call, we had a tremendous response from the Arab countries in both Asia and Africa,” he said. "This proves how important this event is to the Arab world.

"(The) UAE has always been one of the perennial powers in snooker in the region. However, competition is getting stronger and other countries in the Arab world have started catching up with us.

"We are expecting a very tough challenge from Syria and Egypt at this year's tournament but we are ready to defend our title.”

A 10-strong UAE team has been training hard at the Dubai Snooker Club since beginning of this month to prepare for the singles, team and youth under-21 competitions, which will be contested at the event.

Leading the UAE challenge for the titles will be defending champion Mohamed Shehab and 2009 Arab Championship runner-up Mohammed Al Joaker.

The members of the team are: Abdulrahman Saif; Eissa Ali Sayed; Marwan Ibrahim; Ahmed Abdulqader; Saif Al Kitbi and Altaf Noor Rashid.

Talented Khalid Kamali and Bard Obaid will be representing the UAE in the youth singles competition. – Sport 360°

RELATED ARTICLES

21 May 2013	UAE first Arab country to receive full membership of International Ice Hockey Federation
20 May 2013	WWE returns to UAE with John Cena and Ryback
18 May 2013	Nahyan bin Mubark issues laws forming Boards of the National Committee for Anti-Doping and the UAE Tennis Federation
12 May 2013	Int'l Zayed Charity Marathon in New York conveys UAE's message of respect to humanity
18 April 2013	Dubai Sports City’s Summer of Sport gets underway this Friday