M.J.M. Lafir – World Billiards Champion 1973 – (Muhammad Junaid Muhammad Lafir)

Name	Date of Birth	Country
Muhammad Junaid Muhammad Lafir	27-05-1930	Sri Lanka

Nam e                  :                  Muhammad Junaid Muhammad Lafir

M.J.M. Lafir was born on 27th day of May, 1930 at St. Joseph’s street, Grandpass to S.L.M. Juanid and Salaha Ummuna. He started playing Billiards from the age of seven. His first mentor was his own father. 

While studying at Hameediah Boys English School, at New Moor Street Colombo 12, M.J.M Lafir started his Billiards and Snooker first on a quarter size table then on a half size table. Later he graduated to a full size table at Hulftsdrop in a Billiards parlour.

His fame would have been lost in the “desert air” of Hulftsdorp but for two happenings. Then he joined the MICH (Moors Islamic Cultural Home) in 1947 and played for them in their regular friendly games with other clubs and the founding of the Ceylon Amateur Billiards Association in 1948 M. J. M Lafir was much grateful to the MICH for discovering him, nurturing him, grooming him for a big billiards and to the Ceylon Amateur Billiards Association for providing the opportunity to play against visiting champions and to go overseas for international competitions.

Turning back the pages of time it was in 1973 that MJM Lafir crowned himself as world champion winning the World Amateur Billiards Championship held in Bombay beating India’s Satish Mohan in the final.

So, this sport was able to produce Sri Lanka her only world champion in an individual game apart from team game cricket, which Sri Lanka won the Wills World Cup in 1996.

He also added to his crown a world record break of 859 points in one set against Erick Simons of New Zealand in the same tournament.

 

The unique success of Muhammad Junaid Muhammad Lafir in winning the World Amateur Billiards Championship in Bombay, in November-December 1973, being victorious against all his opponents and also scoring the highest break of 859, is an achievement without parallel in the annals of Sport in Sri Lanka.

At the World Snooker Tournament in Edinburgh, Scotland, in Oct-Noc 1970, Lafir defeated IL Glozier (NZ), aul Mifsud (Malta), John Clint (N Ireland), D Sneddon (Scotland), but lost to John Phillips (Scotland) and Sidney Hood (England).

At the World Amateur Billiards Championships in Valeta, Malta, in Nov 1971, Lafir finished fourth defeating D Sneddon (Scotland), Paul Mifsud (Malta), Lance Napper (NZ) and losing to Manuel Fransisco (South Africa) in the preliminary rounds.

In Nov-Dec 1972, at the World Open Billiards Championship, hel in Auckland, New Zealand, in which professionals as well as amateurs participated, Lafir lost to Clark McConachy (NZ), Eddie Charlton (Australia), Paddy Morgan (Ireland), Satish Mohan (India), Leslie Driffield (England) and Michael Ferreira (India) but won against C Everton (Wales), Jim Fryer (England), Kinsley Kennerly (England) and Jack Karneham (England). He failed to qualify for the Final Round.

Lafir won the World Amateur Billiards Championship, held in Bombay in Nov-Dec 1973, defeating all his opponents, viz; Clive Everton (Wales), Michael Ferreira (India), LU Demarco (Scotland), Alfred Nolan (England), Satish Mohan (India), Eric Simons (NZ), Brian Kirkness (NZ), Phil Tarrant (Australia), and Paul Mifsud (Malta.

On his return to Sri Lanka, after winning the title of World Amateur Billiard Champion, Lafir was given a red-carpet welcome on Dec 22 1973, and hosts of other receptions were awarded to him in celebrating the momentous and historical achievement. He was received and garlanded at the Airport by the Hon KB Ratnayake, Minister of Sports & Parliamentary Affairs, Hon Dr NM Perera, Minister of Finance, Hon Dr Badiudin Mahmud, Minister of Education, Hon Leslie Gunawardena, Minister of Transport, Mr I A Cader, Deputy Speaker, Sir Razik Fareed and officials of the Billiards Control Council and the MICH.

No other sportsman dominated the game so much as Lafir did, in the cue sport.

He reigned supreme for 24 years between 1949 to 1973, he annexed the National Billiards title of Sri Lanka 16 times and the National Snooker title on 15 separate occasions.

Not satisfied, he went across to the Indian National Snooker title won on seven occasions from 1956 to 1976, defeating some of the best Indian Stalwarts. M.J. M. Lafir’s achievement was commendable to Sri Lanka at that time.

It was on 17th of April 1981, one month before his 51st birthday this great man who put Sri Lanka Sports on the World Map, breathed his last while his family members and close friends were by his bed side.

Lafii and his wife, Misriya, were conducted in a long motorcade from the Bandaranaike International Airport through the more populous streets of Colombo where large crowds gathered to welcome him home and cheer his victory. He was given a rousing welcome at the MICH Fort and conducted to the Hall where many speeches of felicitation and honor were given by the VIP’s present. A felicitation dinner was also arranged by the MICH, in honor of Lafir, at the Hotel Taprobane on Sunday Dec 23, 1973, where a bevy of 150 important and significant guests attended.

Lafir and his wife were also accompanied by the Hon Dr Badiudin Mahmud to pay courtesy calls on His Excellency Mr William Gopallawa, Governor General, and Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Prime Minister, both of whom received him with right royal cordiality.

The Colombo Municipal Council accorded a civic reception in honor of MJM Lafir on Dec 31, 1973 with the Mayor, Mr Vincent Perera in the chair.

MJM Lafir made a valiant attempt to score a prestigious double when he participated in the World Amateur Snooker Championship in Dublin, Ireland, in Nov 1974. Although he won six of the eight matches he played in the preliminary rounds he lost in the quarter finals. Lafir won against ray Edmonds (England), holder and utlimate winner of the title, Shyam Shroff (India), John Skelazeski (Canada), Des Sheehan (Ireland), Geoff Thomas (Wales) and Patrick Donnelly (NZ) while he lost to Norman Stockman (NZ) and Eddie Sinclair (Scotland). He was beaten in the quarter finals by Pasqual Burke (Ireland) by 3 frames to 4. In the final round Ray Edmonds (reigning champion, England) beat Geoff Thomas (Wales) by 11 frames to 9.

After his death, the Colombo Municipal Council renamed Messenger Street, as M.J.M. Lafir Mawatha. His club MICH conducts a cue tournament in his memory. Fitting tribute was paid to him with the issuing of a stamp in his name.

M.J.M. Lafir will be remembered as a legend in green blazer who tantalized opponents with his fine moves.

The Maestro is no more but people in Sri Lanka will ever remember him for his contribution to our soil.