World’s snooker champ: Israel offered me to abandon match

Pakistan’s Muahmmad Asif, winner of the IBSF World Snooker Championship, said Israel approached him with an offer to abandon a match, a local TV station reported Tuesday. Asif, who became the second Pakistani to win the world’s snooker championship Sunday in Bulgaria, told ARY News TV’s website that “Israel had approached him with an offer to abandon match.” The website, however, didn’t provide further information about the match and on whether it was when he played against Israel’s Shachar Ruberg late November. Asif, won after beating England’s Gary Wilson, with the frame scores of 36-73, 72-11, 29-67, 3-72, 79-39, 70-43, 27-67, 41-88, 29-106, 78-47, 1-85, 111-1, 64-4. Meanwhile, the champion urged Pakistan sports authorities to hire a snooker coach to develop the plethora of “snooker talent” across the country and to take the game to new heights. The player, 28, won the world championship without having a coach, and advised with a tasked mentor, Pakistani players can reach their potential within couple of years. “With each win, my confidence grew and I performed better and better.” His new goal is to be featured in the professional circuit in England to further improve his game.