Valika welcomes Pulsirivong’s induction into world snooker Hall of Fame

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Ali Asghar Vailka, having served as President of the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA) for a couple of decades, has warmly welcomed the induction of Thailand’s Sindhu Pulsirivong into the world snooker Hall of Fame.

“It’s a matter of great pleasure and satisfaction for all of us that Sindhu Pulsirivong, the long-serving President of the Billiard Sports Association of Thailand (BSAT), has become the first Asian to be inducted into the elite list,” he commended. 

“It’s equally heartening to note that he has also created history of sorts by becoming the first non-player recipient of the award, which had previously been strictly the domain of the top players from the United Kingdom and Ireland,” Asghar Valika added. 

Sindhu Pulsirivong, who is also President of the World Professional Snooker and Billiards Association (WPBSA), was inducted into world snooker Hall of Fame, alongside former World Champion Stuart Bingham and Rex Williams in the sport’s annual awards ceremony in London. 

“He has thoroughly deserved the recognition at the highest level that has come his way now. He has been a great supporter of snooker over the years, having played pivotal role in globalization of cue sports,” Asghar Vailka, who himself headed the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) for six years, complimented.

"This is the most prestigious award in snooker and his extraordinary services have now been appropriately recognized. I firmly believe that this would encourage the snooker administrators and organizers all over the world, particularly in Asia, which augurs well for the future of cue sports,” he added. 

It’s interesting to add that the snooker careers of Asghar Vailka and Sindhu Pulsirivong have had quite a few similarities. 

Both of them were elected to lead their respective federations of cue sports in the same year (1988). 

The two illustrious contemporaries also went on to lead the ACBS besides holding key slots in the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF). 

Both of them are revered in the snooker circles globally for their monumental contributions to the sport which merit greater recognition.