New Cooperation for WPBSA and Nepalese Snooker
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and the Nepal Billiard, Snooker and Pool Association (NBSPA) have agreed upon initial steps to support snooker in the country following a meeting last month in Bath.
WPBSA Vice-Chairman Nigel Mawer QPM and Company Secretary Chris Hornby were joined by NBSPA President Saroj Kumar Mulmi to discuss cooperation opportunities to help further the grassroots development of snooker in Nepal.
With an estimated player base of 100,000 in the country, snooker has been registered with the sports ministry for 28 years and has continued to see strong participation with 256 players having competed in the most recent national event.
It is the aim of the NBSPA to continue to promote snooker in Nepal and in particular to support the development of the next generation of junior talent, as well as new officials who can represent the country at national and international events.
In recent years the WPBSA has strengthened its portfolio of grassroots initiatives, including the WPBSA Coaching Programme and a new Referee Training Programme, which has initially been rolled out through England by the English Partnership for Snooker and Billiards.
Both the WPBSA and NBSPA have agreed to explore opportunities to make these projects and others accessible to players from Nepal and the mutual prioritisation of junior talent development.
It was further agreed by the NBSPA to provide information as to the playing facilities available in Nepal to assist the continued growth and development of the WPBSA Club Finder.
Nigel Mawer QPM, WPBSA Vice Chairman said: “It is great to hear about the activity and the commitment to help grow our sport in Nepal from the leadership of the NBSPA.
“The WPBSA is committed to expanding upon the pathways to the professional tour and making those routes to the elite level of the sport truly global. Meetings like this with passionate people can only help with those ambitions.
“We look forward to working further with the NBSPA in delivering and supporting grassroots structures which will enable our shared long-term vision of developing talented young snooker players from Nepal to be able to compete on the World Snooker Tour.”