Asian Snooker Championship kicks off in Karachi

ISLAMABAD, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The 29th Asian Snooker Championship started on Saturday in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi.

The championship attracted 15 countries and regions include hosts Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Iran, Iraq, Mongolia, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the defending champion Thailand.

A total of 16 teams were originally scheduled to take part in the mega event but India pulled out on Thursday as the players failed to get their government's clearance in time despite Pakistan had issued them No-Objection Certificate one month ago.

This is the fourth time for Pakistan to stage the Asian major competition after holding it in 1991 for the first time.

The organizing committee allocated a prize money of 13,500 U.S. dollars for the event with the winner pocketing 7,000 US dollars.