Date with Peace this December

The proof of the pudding is in its eating. And if proof was needed, Iraq8217;s football team provided the answer with a sweet victory in the Asian Cup recently.

The proof of the pudding is in its eating. And if proof was needed, Iraq8217;s football team provided the answer with a sweet victory in the Asian Cup recently. And even before that the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India and its Pakistani counterpart made an initiative while the peace process between the two countries was on in 2003.

The culimination of that initiative saw a Peace Cup snooker event being launched between the two nations. And, expectedly, it threw open the doors for a bilateral cricket tournament between India and Pakistan. The rest, as they say, is history.

After the first two editions of the Peace Cup 8212; held on a reciprocal basis 8212; the 2005 edition had to be postponed following the earthquake in Pakistan and the following year, the Doha Games took place, keeping the players busy. But now, despite a busy international calendar, the two bodies have come together to host the third edition in December.

This was the main topic of discussion that Ali Asghar Valika, president of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation, had soon after he arrived in the Capital, en route to Goa, here today. Confirming the discussion he had with Valika, BSFI vice-president Ravi K Tandon said India will host the Peace Cup Snooker in the first week of December. 8220;We have left it to BSFI to decide on the venue,8221; said Valika, talking to newspersons today.

Meanwhile, Valika also said that he was toying with the idea of a triangular series, involving India, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. 8220;The UAE could be the third team. We will host this event next year,8221; said Valika, who is also the executive vice-president of the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports.

Regretting his inability to send a Pakistani team for the World Under-21 tournament beginning in Goa tomorrow, Valika said, 8220;It is unfortunate. All our junior players are above 21, and if it were an Asia-level tournament we would still manage. But we can8217;t take a world meet lightly.8221;

He also said he was looking for help from BSFI, particularly Indian billards coaches to help them make progress in the game. 8220;I have been in touch with Ashok Shandilya and a few others who can help our billiards players grow. India are good in the game with proven record at world level. We don8217;t need any foreign coach. Intead, we both India and Pakistan can help each other,8221; he said.

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Talking on Pakistan8217;s strength, Valika said snooker happens to be their strength and it was mainly because of the 800-odd parlours in the country. 8220;We have depth in the game. But we want to groom players in billiards as well,8221; he said.