Former Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) vice-president Haji Jaffer died here Sunday, according to a press release from the Karnataka Billiards and Snooker Association (KBSA).
Jaffer, a widower and an advocate by profession, was 88 and is survived by two daughters and a son.
"During his tenure as the BSFI vice-president, Jaffer moved a resolution to include cue sport in the Asian Games and it was thanks to his efforts that India won 15 medals, including five gold, four silver and six bronze medals," said BSFI secretary S. Balasubramaniam.
Cue sports made its Asian Games debut in 1998 Bangkok and was part of the quadrennial event until 2010 after which it was dropped from the programme.
Associated with cue sports since 1952, Jaffer played a key role in the KSBA securing its own premises that also houses a club house and guest rooms besides billiards tables.
Jaffer was also instrumental in shifting the venue of the National Championship from Kolkata, then the headquarters of the BSFI, to other parts of India on a rotation basis.
At Jaffer's insistence, the BSFI agreed to introduce a National Championship for Women and the inaugural event was conducted by the KSBA in 1989.