Qatar snooker team players Ahmed Saif (right), Ali Al Obaidli (third right), Khamis Al Obaidli (second right), Mohanna Al Obaidli (second left), and Mohsin Bukshaisha (third left), pose for a picture along with Mike Russell, coach of the team, after a training session at Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation Hall yesterday. RIGHT: Pool player Bashar Hussain (left) and coach Steven Lin.PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT
Doha: Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation (QBSF) have lined up two preparatory camps for its Pool and Snooker teams ahead of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Korea, informed an official of QBSF.
The snooker team will undergo a nine-day training camp in London, while the Pool team will travel to Taiwan on June 12, to gear up for AIMAG.
“The snooker team will leave for London on June 12. The players will be based at the South West Snooker Academy, in Gloucester. As part of the training programme they will be playing some matches against the local players. They will also play some matches against professional players,” informed Ehab Al Salih, Technical Secretary at QBSF.
“Currently, all the players are undergoing training in Doha and will return from London on June 23. Thereafter, they will regroup and leave for Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Korea,” Al Salih said.
Ahmed Saif, the only professional player from Qatar, currently taking part in his first tournament as a pro player, will join the squad in London from Bulgaria.
The other members of the Qatar team which is heading to London are Ali Al Obaidli, Khamis Al Obaidli, Mohanna Al Obaidli, and Mohsin Bukshaisha.
Mike Russell, an eleven-time world champion in Billiards in the professional category, a Snooker coach with Qatar team since 2007, will accompany the team as a coach.
Abdul Moshim Khamis will be the head of the delegation.
The Pool team consisting of Bashar Hussain and Mohammed Bin Ali, and coached by Steven Lin will leave for Taiwan on June 11.
“We will be taking part in the three Pool tournaments in Taiwan. We will train in Taiwan in between the tournaments and will head to Korea on June 26. Players from Hong Kong, Singapore, Brunei and China are expected to take part in the three tournaments,” informed Lin.
As part of the preparations for the Korean Games, the Qatar players are taking part in the Nero Bianco Snooker Challenge, a two-day tournament organised by QBSF, which began here yesterday.
Two teams Nero Bianco and QBSF, consisting of 8 players are taking part in the 15-red format.
“The tournament is a series format and will be played at least 12 times a year. The winning team will get QR4,000, the runner’s up QR1,500 and the highest break winner will get QR500,” the QBSF said.
The AIMAG, will be held over eight days in Incheon, from June 29 to July 6, this year.
The AIMAG will feature twelve disciplines including Aquatics, Billiards Sports, Bowling, Chess, Baduk, Dance Sports, Electronic Sports, Football, Futsal, Kabaddi, Kickboxing, Kurash and Muay.
Around forty five Aisan countries will be taking part in the AIMAG in Korea they include Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Bahrain, Korea, Qatar, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Laos, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Lebanon, Syria China, Macau, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, Malaysia, Tajikistan, Hong Kong, Maldives, Thailand, Independent Olympic Athletes, Mongolia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Myanmar, Turkmenistan, Iran, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Oman, Uzbekistan, Japan, Pakistan, Vietnam, Jordan Palestine and Yemen.
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