Doha: Australian Ian Anderson, the President of the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) hopes that Qatar will succeed in their quest to host the 2020 Olympic Games which, as he believes, will be a good push for his association's efforts to include Billiard in the Olympiad.
"Qatar has played a big role in our game. Thanks to them that the World Nine-ball Championship has came back to live after a two year stoppage. They have hosted and successfully organised the last two versions of the championship in 2010 and 2011 after the annual championship has stopped during 2008 and 2009," Anderson said after attending part of the Billiard competitions in the Arab Games.
"It is thanks to Qatar that Billiards has become a part of the Arab Games for the first time in the games history. We believe this is a big move forward towards pressing for a place for our sport in the Olympic Games. If Qatar succeeded in their quest to host the 2020 Olympic Games then they will play a positive role in helping our game to become an Olympic sport.
Egypt lead standings
"I know and appreciate the facilities of Qatar to spread our game and our cause and I am sure of their success despite the tough competition they are facing in order to host the Olympic Games but nothing is impossible, they have already succeeded in winning the finals of the 2022 World Cup," Anderson concluded.
Meanwhile, hosts Qatar, the least populated Arab country, continues to chase Egypt, the highest populated country, to top the medals tally in this Games.
Egypt, the regular powerhouse of the Games since hosting the first one in Alexandria in 1953, leads the standings with 34 medals (15 gold, 13 silver and six bronze) followed by the hosts, Qatar with 24 medals (9 gold, 6 silver and 9 bronze), Tunisia is third with 16 (seven gold, three silver and six bronze).
The UAE has advanced from the 17th place on the standings to the 12th with one silver and four bronze medals.
