Billiards champ Lafir, a forgotten figure
View(s):Sri Lankan Cricket lovers and sport fans are basking in the glory of a great World T20 Cricket Tournament victory held in Bangladesh recently. This achievement is certainly creditable since Sri Lanka won its last World Cup tournament about 18 years ago under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga at Rawalpindi, Pakistan. All credit should go to the Captain Lasith Malinga for steering his team to a resounding victory against the much fancied Indians.
World champ Lafir in his prime during the 1980s - File pic
It is however a matter for deep regret that the first man who brought honour, fame and glory to Sri Lanka, Maestro M.J.M. Lafir in the international arena of sports, has been completely forgotten or overlooked. He has virtually been thrust into the limbo of forgotten things.
Billiards is the sport when Sri Lanka produced her one and only World Champion in an international game, apart from a team game, Cricket, which Sri Lanka won at the Wills World Cup in 1996.
Six years before the historic triumph Lafir had been the runner-up to the Englishman, Leslie Driffied in 1967 in the World Championships held in Colombo.
Lafir was the one and only Sri Lankan sportsman who made an indelible impact in the world of sports when he emerged the unbeatable champ in Billiards in 1973 beating the much fancied reigning champ Satish Mohan of India.
It is indeed a pity that, with the untimely demise of this great Sri Lankan World Billiard Champ, no efforts have been made at least to commemorate his death anniversary on a national scale, irrespective of caste, creed or nationality.
The Moors Islamic Cultural Home, the club he represented at the World Championships should take the initiative and explore the possibility of at least reviving the Lafir Memorial Billiards Tournament which was held for the past several years as a fitting tribute to this great Sportsman.
Rowan Aniff