Rising Billiard Star 13 Killed In Car Crash

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Afiq Saiful Bahari, 13, and his mentor Farhan Alyas. (Farhan Alyas pic)PETALING JAYA: The billiard fraternity is devastated by the passing of its teenage rising star in an early morning accident in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, today.
Thirteen-year-old Afiq Saiful Bahari died in the accident which occurred at around 2.50am on the Lekas highway when the Honda City he was in veered off the road and ended up in a drain.
Seremban police chief Arifai Tarawe said the victim died at the scene.
“Preliminary investigations show that the accident happened after a 21-year-old driver who was ferrying four passengers lost control at the bend (of the highway) and the car swerved towards the drain.
“The boy died at the scene while the rest were sent to Tuanku Jaafar Hospital for treatment,” he said in a statement.
According to Afiq’s mentor Farhan Alyas, Afiq was on his way home to Kuala Lumpur after a billiard tournament in Senawang, Negeri Sembilan.
He said Afiq’s death was a loss to the billiard community as the boy was aggressively climbing the ladder to become a professional billiard athlete.
“I just accompanied him to a tournament in Shah Alam last week, where he emerged champion after defeating players older than him.
“He had won various competitions locally and had his first taste of international competition in Vietnam this year. I’m at a loss for words as the kid had a bright future in this sport,” he told FMT, adding that Afiq had been involved in the sport since he was eight years old. - FMT

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