Mohamed Shehab aiming for UAE snooker to make a mark

Matt Jones - Editor 05:48 09/05/2016
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  • Confident: Mohamed Shehab.

    On the back of a silver medal at last month’s Asian Snooker Championship, Mohammed Shehab believes it’s about time the UAE made its mark on the Asian snooker scene.

    Emirati snooker players have dominated the game in the Gulf region, but they have failed to take that form onto the Asian circuit. In 31 years of the Asian Snooker Championship, renowned as the premier non-professional snooker tournament in the continent, Shehab is the only Emirati to have appeared in the final. He lost on both occasions, in 2006 and just a month ago in Qatar.

    The 40-year-old and fellow veteran Mohammed Al Joaker will head the UAE team taking part in the Asian 6-Red and Teams Championships in Abu Dhabi later this month, and Shehab insists the UAE have to bridge the gap between local domination and continental failure.

    “We have conquered the Arab world, now it is time to make an impact in Asia,” said Shehab ahead of the tournament, which will take place at the capital’s Novotel Hotel between May 18-26.

    Thailand have won 16 of the 31 Asian Snooker Championship and Shehab believes they, along with Hong Kong, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan will be the teams to beat in the fifth Asian 6-Red and Teams Championships.

    “We have done well locally but it will be tough to beat these countries. It will be hard work, but that (becoming No. 1 in Asia) is the next aim,” he added.

    Teams from 14 countries will participate in the fifth version of the tournament, with games to be played on individual, doubles and team (of three) formats.

    The team matches will be played with 15 red balls but the singles and doubles are played with six reds – a decision taken by the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports when establishing the tournament to make things more exciting.

    Mustafa Shehab, Mohammed’s father and tournament director, is expecting success on home soil.

    “Of course we have a chance of success, we are playing at home,” said Shehab senior, who is a big fan of the shortened format. “From the break you are under pressure. In the last eight years pool has boomed in the UAE and snooker has declined. The previous president of the Asian federation thought of this, hoping snooker would become popular again and that’s what has happened.

    “It finishes quickly. It is like T20 cricket and everyone likes it.”

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