Latest news with #HasnainAkhtar
Express Tribune
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Snooker success
Listen to article Pakistani snooker players have been orchestrating masterclasses in excellence, dominating the world snooker championships at masters and under-17 level. The annual tournament, organised this year in Bahrain by the International Billiards & Snooker Federation, is the premier amateur event on the snooker calendar. Muhammad Asif and teenager Hasnain Akhtar won their respective titles on the same day, and while Asif still had a competitive 4-3 win against his India rival, Akhtar routed his Welsh opponent without dropping a frame. Meanwhile, just a few weeks back, Pakistani cueists put up strong performances during the group stages of the Asian Championships, showing that despite having limited resources, minimal corporate patronage, and a backdrop of national challenges, our wealth of talent still shines through. However, it is worth noting that even in previous years, top Pakistani amateurs have not been able to dominate the professional game. In most instances, it is for the same reason: limited patronage from the state or corporate sponsors means many of our top amateur athletes lack the opportunity to hone their skills, and talent can only take them so far. This may be best summarised in the career of Mohammad Asif, who has been a dominant force at the amateur level for several years. He is only the second man ever to win three IBSF World Men's Snooker titles, yet he also only managed to reach a career-high professional ranking of 82 during the 2023-24 season. This is in stark contrast to several other talented amateurs who have gone on to have successful professional careers, backed in part by sponsorships that literally afford them the means and opportunity to participate in various international tournaments. Though it is not necessary for the government to provide patronage to every sport — especially at a time when it can barely provide patronage to health and education — it can still encourage private companies to support players, and citizens who claim to be sports fans can start actually going to watch them at the playing venue, instead of sitting home.
Express Tribune
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Pakistan's Hasnain Akhtar clinches IBSF U-17 Snooker Championship
Listen to article Sixteen-year-old Hasnain Akhtar clinched the IBSF World Under-17 Snooker Championship, defeating Wales' Reilly Powell in a commanding 4-0 victory in the final held in Manama, Bahrain, according to reports received on Friday. The young cueist from Pakistan displayed complete dominance in the title match, not allowing his opponent any chance to recover. Akhtar secured the championship without dropping a single frame, underlining his impressive form throughout the tournament. This major international triumph adds to Pakistan's growing list of achievements in cue sports and reaffirms the nation's talent in the global snooker arena. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah congratulated Hasnain Akhtar on his title win, praising the teenager for making the country proud on the world stage. 'Hasnain's success is a result of hard work, commitment, and determination. Our youth are a valuable national asset,' Shah said, adding that the Sindh government remains committed to promoting sports in the province. 'Young athletes like Hasnain Akhtar are a source of pride for all of us,' he added.
Arab News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Pakistani cueist Muhammad Asif advances to IBSF World Masters final in Bahrain
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Muhammad Asif has qualified for the final of the Masters category at the IBSF World Snooker Championships in Bahrain, defeating India's Manan Chandra 4-2 in the semifinal, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Friday. The 42‑year‑old from Faisalabad — a three‑time IBSF World Amateur Champion (2012, 2019, 2024) and recipient of Pakistan's Pride of Performance Award in 2015 — took the first frame 118‑6 before conceding the next two, then reeled off three straight wins to secure his place in the final. He will now face Brijesh Damani in the final, scheduled for Friday, 6pm Bahrain Time, 8pm PKT, the IBSF said in a post on Instagram. 'Another Pakistan cueist Hasnain Akhtar has also reached final in the U-17 category of IBSF World Masters Final after beating Oliwier Nizialek of Poland by 4-0,' Radio Pakistan reported. Asif qualified for the semifinals of the masters after defeating Habib Sabah (Bahrain) 4-0 (68(68)-8, 57-37, 68(68)-8, 40(40)-8) in the quarterfinal on Thursday. In the pre-quarterfinals, Asif defeated Mohamed Shehab (UAE) 4-2 (56-68, 21-72, 57-21, 80(80)-0, 68-45(43), 68-58). The IBSF World Snooker Championships are being held in Manama from July 13–24 and feature top amateur players in Masters and youth categories. Pakistan has a long record of success in amateur snooker.
Asharq Al-Awsat
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Pakistani Security Forces Kill 9 Militants in a Raid near the Afghan Border
Pakistani security forces raided a militant hideout in the restive northwest near the Afghan border, killing nine militants, the military said Monday. The military said in a statement that a high-value militant Shireen was among those insurgents killed in Dera Ismail Khan, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. All the militants who were killed were the "Khwarij,' a phrase the government uses for Pakistani Taliban, and Shireen was behind last month's killing of an army Capt. Hasnain Akhtar in a shootout in the region, the military said. The Pakistani Taliban are known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. The group is an ally of the Taliban in Afghanistan and has been emboldened since the Afghan Taliban seized power there in 2021. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks, most claimed by TTP. Though Pakistan often conducts operations against the militants, the latest raid in Dera Ismail Khan came a day after troops killed eight militants in the northwestern North Waziristan district as they tried to cross the border with Afghanistan.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pakistani security forces kill 9 militants in a raid near the Afghan border
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani security forces raided a militant hideout in the restive northwest near the Afghan border, killing nine militants, the military said Monday. The military said in a statement that a high-value militant Shireen was among those insurgents killed in Dera Ismail Khan, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. All the militants who were killed were the "Khwarij,' a phrase the government uses for Pakistani Taliban, and Shireen was behind last month's killing of an army Capt. Hasnain Akhtar in a shootout in the region, the military said. The Pakistani Taliban are known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. The group is an ally of the Taliban in Afghanistan and has been emboldened since the Afghan Taliban seized power there in 2021. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks, most claimed by TTP. Though Pakistan often conducts operations against the militants, the latest raid in Dera Ismail Khan came a day after troops killed eight militants in the northwestern North Waziristan district as they tried to cross the border with Afghanistan.
