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[ad_1] KARACHI: "I still can't believe he's gone. It doesn't feel like he's gone," says Umar, the brother of Pakistani cueist Majid Ali , as he recovers from Majid's suicide on the first day of Eidul Adha, two weeks ago. "Only Allah knows if it was a suicide or an accident. I feel it was an accident because he was not in control. He was not well, had trouble sleeping for days, and was on medication. People call it suicide, but I believe it was just an accident. It was his time to go," shares Umar, as he tries to come to terms with the loss of his brother. This is particularly challenging in a country and society that does not prioritize mental health as an important aspect of overall well-being. Majid gained prominence in the public consciousness after his death. Those who closely followed Pakistani snooker knew of Majid's significant and understated achievements. Majid should be remembered as an extraordinary player and as the gen...

[ad_1] TEHRAN: A passion for snooker has swept Iran in recent years, a trend fans attribute largely to the country's first internationally renowned star Hossein Vafaei, known as the "Persian Prince". Ever more enthusiasts in the Islamic republic have taken to the cue sport played on a billiards table, and Tehran last week hosted an Asian regional tournament. "In the past, Iran did not have much of a place in the Asian and world championships in billiards and snooker," said referee Mohammad Afghil Morshedi, 34, of Iran's Bowling, Billiard and Boules Federation. But in recent years, said Morshedi, the sport – invented by British officers in colonial-era India – "has gained many enthusiasts... and now we are among the top three teams in Asia in winning titles and medals". Much of this is due to one man, he said: "Mr Vafaei is the brand of this sport in Iran. "Whenever the name of Iran is brought up in snooker, his name will come...