The Malaysian Snooker and Billiards Federation is reassessing athlete participation in international events due to the Middle East conflict, shifting focus to Asian tournaments.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Snooker and Billiards Federation (MSBF) is reassessing its international competition plans for national athletes this year due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
MSBF president Melvin Chia said several tournaments originally scheduled abroad, including in Saudi Arabia, have been postponed or altered.
“For this year’s tournament, we had planned several participations abroad, but due to the conflict in the Middle East that has just begun, many tournaments scheduled to take place in the region had to be postponed or changed,” he said.
Chia explained the uncertain duration of the conflict has forced the federation to rearrange its competition programme.
He stated the MSBF will now focus on athlete participation in tournaments across Asia and Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, Chia highlighted a significant challenge ahead of the 2027 SEA Games, which Malaysia will host.
He noted that during previous home games in 2001 and 2017, the national camp failed to win any gold medals in snooker and billiards.
“So every time we host, the challenge is really big because our athletes face the pressure of playing on their home turf,” he said.
Chia said this pressure differs from competing abroad, as athletes perform in front of family and friends.
At the upcoming 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, the national snooker camp will aim to build on recent success.
The team won two gold medals at the last edition, secured by Thor Chuan Leong in the men’s individual 6-red snooker and the men’s team event.
