Remembering the legends:

M. J. M. Lafir - only world champion produced by Sri Lanka

It is time to remember athletes who brought honour and glory to Sri Lanka and it is for this purpose that Dialog Telekom in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Pubic Recreation pays tribute to over 200 athletes in over 15 disciplines on July 15 at the BMICH.

Dialog Telekom has been a prominent sponsor of Sri Lankan Sports and is committed to developing talent in Sri Lanka to international standards.

The 17th March 1996 was a wonderful red letter day for Sri Lanka and all Sri Lankans. We were world champions in cricket.

But even today very few Sri Lankans even realise that we had an individual world champion 23 years before that.

M. J. M. Lafir beat the best in the world to become the world master of the green baize. With sheer brilliance he overcame the stiffest challenge any cueist would ever face in the intellectual, calculating, precision prone Leslie Driffield.

Record breaks were established, nerves pushed to the extreme and with unflinching concentration M.J.M. Lafir was our first world champion way back in 1973.

This was a man who learned his craft using a broomstick for a cue, the dining table at home for a billiards table and marbles for balls. Starting at the age of 12 Lafir pursued his passion and perfected his art, his father being his inspiration.

By the time he was 18 Lafir was well on his way to being a champion and in 1948 while Duncan White was hurdling to silver at the London Olympics another world champion was in the making. With the national snooker championships title tucked away under his belt there was no looking back.

His perfect balance, unmatched accuracy, marksman - like precision and willpower of a titan saw him crowned National Snooker Champion 17 times and National Billiards Champion 16 times.

He also secured for himself the title of All Indian Snooker Champion and was a popular figure in world tournaments. That he would be a world champion was inevitable. In December 1973, Lafir overcame all odds, defeating strong contenders from every continent, to be crowned “World Billiards Champion”.

It was his attacking nature and his trademark “Postman’s Knock” shot that won him the coveted trophy. It is a victory that lingers in the memory of every Sri Lankan billiards fan.

Pakistan and even Wales invited Lafir to represent their countries but Lafir, the true patriot, turned down lucrative financial offers and even property and vehicles in order that he would represent only Ceylon.

Thus was the man, Mohamed Junaid Mohamed Lafir the Sri Lankan Billiards legend who will be forever remembered as the craftsman of the green baize who mesmerised opponents with his magic and gave Sri Lanka her first world title.