Even Without Arms, Pakistani Man Is Skilled Snooker Player
2020-11-01
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1A Pakistani man who was born without arms has developed into a highly skilled snooker player.
2In the game of snooker, players traditionally use long sticks to hit colored balls into holes at the end of a table.
3But Muhammad Ikram has learned a different method.
4He uses his chin to hit the balls into the holes.
5The 32-year-old lives in Samundri, a rural town in Pakistan's Punjab province.
6He has spent eight years perfecting his game and says he is not afraid to take on any players.
7"I have met very good snooker players who tell me I am a real genius, that I can bring great fame to Pakistan," he told Reuters Television.
8Muhammad Ikram is one of nine children.
9He did not receive an education and his family faced struggles meeting basic needs.
10Growing up, Ikram spent much of his time watching people play snooker, a game no one dreamed he could ever play.
11He says he does not remember exactly how the idea of playing struck him.
12But at some point, he started practicing the game in secret.
13"He would eagerly watch the other boys play. He would keep wishing he also had arms so he could play like them," said his mother, Razia Bibi.
14"Then he started using his chin."
15Mian Usman Ahmed is co-owner of the Cuemaster Snooker Club.
16He says Ikram won several prizes in local competitions over the past two years.
17"He would come to the club and ask that he be allowed to play. We would look at his arms and feel he was unable to," Ahmed said.
18"He insisted we allow him to ... prove himself. When he did that, we saw he was actually very good."
19Ikram says many people like his undying spirit.
20Some eateries even permit him to eat their food for free, with waiters volunteering to feed him.
21He told Reuters, "God has not given me arms, but he has given me courage. And I have used that spirit to fulfill my ambition."
22When asked what he would say to others with physical disabilities, Ikram said "no one should lose hope."
23He added that he would one day like to compete at the international level, hopefully with government support.
24Pakistani government records show that the country has 3.3 million people with disabilities.
25But some studies have estimated the actual number could be as high as 13 percent of the population.
26I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A Pakistani man who was born without arms has developed into a highly skilled snooker player. 2In the game of snooker, players traditionally use long sticks to hit colored balls into holes at the end of a table. But Muhammad Ikram has learned a different method. He uses his chin to hit the balls into the holes. 3The 32-year-old lives in Samundri, a rural town in Pakistan's Punjab province. He has spent eight years perfecting his game and says he is not afraid to take on any players. 4"I have met very good snooker players who tell me I am a real genius, that I can bring great fame to Pakistan," he told Reuters Television. 5Muhammad Ikram is one of nine children. He did not receive an education and his family faced struggles meeting basic needs. 6Growing up, Ikram spent much of his time watching people play snooker, a game no one dreamed he could ever play. He says he does not remember exactly how the idea of playing struck him. But at some point, he started practicing the game in secret. 7"He would eagerly watch the other boys play. He would keep wishing he also had arms so he could play like them," said his mother, Razia Bibi. "Then he started using his chin." 8Mian Usman Ahmed is co-owner of the Cuemaster Snooker Club. He says Ikram won several prizes in local competitions over the past two years. 9"He would come to the club and ask that he be allowed to play. We would look at his arms and feel he was unable to," Ahmed said. "He insisted we allow him to ... prove himself. When he did that, we saw he was actually very good." 10Ikram says many people like his undying spirit. Some eateries even permit him to eat their food for free, with waiters volunteering to feed him. 11He told Reuters, "God has not given me arms, but he has given me courage. And I have used that spirit to fulfill my ambition." 12When asked what he would say to others with physical disabilities, Ikram said "no one should lose hope." He added that he would one day like to compete at the international level, hopefully with government support. 13Pakistani government records show that the country has 3.3 million people with disabilities. But some studies have estimated the actual number could be as high as 13 percent of the population. 14I'm Bryan Lynn. 15Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 16We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 17___________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19table - n. a piece of furniture with four legs that is used for eating, putting things on, etc. 20genius - n. a person who is extremely intelligent of very good at doing something 21practice - v. repeatedly doing an activity to improve your skills 22eager - adj. wanting to do or have something very much 23club - n. an organization for people with shared interests to take part in activities 24allow - v. permit 25insist - v. to say firmly something is true 26courage - n. the ability to do something without being afraid 27ambition - n. a particular goal or aim : something that a person hopes to do or achieve