The Good Doctor
Credit: World Snooker
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India's Dr
Khizar Raoof is taking a year away from the medical profession to
pursue his dream of playing snooker at the top level.
The 26-year-old
from Hyderabad, India is reigning state champion.
He has entered
the
Q School - the new tournament which runs from May 11 to 31 and
will have 12 places up for grabs on next season's professional
circuit. The semi-finalists from each of three week-long tournaments
will be handed a spot on the World Snooker Tour, where they will be
competing for total prize money of £4.5million.
"The day I heard of this format, I told myself
'I am going come what may." Dr Raoof told World Snooker.
"I started playing when I was 14 years old and
since then I have been a player of considerable merit, performing
quite well at the state and national level tournaments."
"Snooker
unfortunately had to take a back seat soon after I joined medical
school. Now, I have taken a year off work to prepare for and play in
the
Q School.
It's a fantastic idea for players like me who cannot afford to stay
a whole year in the UK to try to qualify for the main tour."
"Since
childhood I have dreamt of being a world champion and now I have a
shot at making it possible. I will give it everything I have got and
irrespective of the outcome I am sure it will be a trip and
experience I will cherish for a long time to come."
"Like every
other budding snooker player I have idolized Stephen Hendry and
Ronnie O'Sullivan. It would be a dream come true if I was able to
rub shoulders with them and, who knows, if things go as planned I
might play them on the main tour if I qualify from
Q School."
UK :: 19
January
2011
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