Ahsan Ramzan, the reigning IBSF World Snooker Champion, arrived back in Pakistan on Monday after securing victory in the U21 Asian Snooker Championship held in Tehran, Iran. However, to his disappointment, there was no official welcome from the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA) officials.
The talented cueist participated in the U21 Asian Snooker Championship and displayed exceptional skill throughout the tournament, remaining unbeaten.
In the final, Ahsan Ramzan demonstrated his prowess by defeating his Iranian opponent, Milad Pourali Darehchi, with a convincing score of 5-2 (48-46, 70-5(41), 61-6(52), 62-29, 30-71, 55-67, 101-27), thus securing the coveted title.
Despite bringing pride to his nation, Ahsan Ramzan received no official welcome upon his return to Pakistan. Alongside fellow cueist Haris Tahir, he arrived at Jinnah International Airport, where no representatives from the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association were present to acknowledge his achievements.
“It is regrettable that no one came to welcome me,” expressed Ahsan Ramzan. However, he remained upbeat and stated, “I have a trophy in my hand and a gold medal around my neck, and I am delighted with this honor. There is no hope from the government. I want to say that may Allah guide the government.”
Reflecting on his victory in the intense final against the Iranian opponent, Ahsan Ramzan attributed his success to the experience gained from the World Cup Final, which helped him handle the pressure during the match.
“There is no doubt that hard work always pays off. I have also played in the World Cup Final, which is why I was accustomed to playing under pressure,” shared Ramzan.
Furthermore, the young cueist expressed his desire to work with a foreign coach, highlighting the need for international expertise.
“We also want to have access to international coaches. If that is not possible, we should be sent abroad for training,” expressed Ahsan Ramzan, emphasizing the importance of acquiring skills from foreign coaching to further enhance his performance and that of his fellow players.