TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) – The passion for snooker has soared in Iran in recent years, a trend fans largely attribute to the country’s first internationally renowned star Hossein Vafai, known as the “Persian Prince”. is known in
More and more enthusiasts in the Islamic Republic are taking up the cue game played on billiards tables, and Tehran hosted an Asian regional tournament last week.
“In the past, Iran did not have much place in the Asian and World Championships in billiards and snooker,” said Mohammad Afghil Morshedi, a 34-year-old referee from the Bowling, Billiard and Bowls Federation of Iran.
But in recent years, Morshedi said, the game – invented by British officials in colonial-era India – “has gained many enthusiasts … and we are now among the top three teams in Asia in winning titles and medals”. are one.”
Much of it, he said, is due to one man: “Mr.” Wafai is the brand of this game in Iran.
“Whenever Iran’s name comes up in snooker, its name will also come up. He is the flag bearer of this sport in Iran.”
Screen capture from video of Iranian snooker player Hossein Vafai, May 2023. (YouTube. (Used pursuant to section 27A of the Copyright Act)
The 28-year-old Vafai is the first professional snooker player from Iran, and the first to win a world ranking title in the English city of Leicester in 2022.
“I am happy to have created history for my country. It was a great moment for me and for snooker,” he said at the time.
Vafei, from Abadan in the southwestern province of Khuzestan bordering Iraq, told state news agency IRNA last week that Iran had “very little snooker history”.
He lamented that so far he had received little official support in his home country, complaining that “no one has done anything for me and I have not received any money or reward.”
Still on the subject of the lack of Iranian sponsors, Vafei said “It’s not just about me, most of our athletes have the same problem.”
A man plays snooker at a club in Tehran on June 26, 2023. (Atta Kenare/AFP)
Nonetheless, they have received huge appreciation from Iran’s snooker and billiards enthusiasts, with the tournament attracting teams from across the Gulf, South Asia and as far as Malaysia and Hong Kong.
“Reaching the position Vafei has achieved is the ultimate goal of almost all Iranian snooker players,” said Shirin Zarin, 38, an employee of the Iran Billiards Federation.
“He has been very impressive,” he said. “If you ask any Iranian snooker player, they idolize Wafai.”
She expressed hope that Iranian women would also gain more prominence in sports in the future in the conservative Shia Muslim country.
“If women can have more access to billiards clubs, more attendance at the game, and a chance to practice better, they can make significant progress,” she said.
