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Saleh wins, Khurram & Sajjad suffers defeat in Asian
Snooker
Dubai—Pakistan cueists have disappointing second day
in 24th Asian Snooker Championship as Khurram Agha and Muhammad
Sajjad suffered defeats but Saleh Muhammad registered second win on
Sunday.
Second seed Khurram in shocking result went down to Muhammad Nadir
Sultan of Afghanistan 4-1 in a dismal showing. Because of longer
duration Khurram’s match was stopped by referee to accommodate
second session matches on schedule at Dubai Police Officers Club
Hall.
Khurram was trailing 3-1 at the break and instantly lost the fifth
frame to give Sultani - a former Pakistan National Pool Championship
runner-up an upset 26-59, 58-62, 16-58, 71-63, 01-70.
Reigning National Champion Muhammad Sajjad Rana featuring in his
first international competition, recovered from 0-3 down to make it
2-3 against unranked local cueman Eissa Al Sayed before losing
65-52, 72-03, 57-47, 41-62, 43-65, 75-23.
Sajjad, a highly talented players Sargodha struggled with his cue
control as Eissa gained control with flowing potting and positional
after little hiccups emerge winner.
Former world championship runner-up Saleh Muhammad registered his
second win in group “A” when he dropped the penultimate frame
against UAE’s Salim Ali Salim before chalking 4-1 victory.
Saleh, who stole the limelight on the opening day with a
record-breaking 147 break was not in his strides as he was unable to
raise any major break in his win.
Earlier, on Saturday night, top seed Yasin Merchant of India brought
Pakistan’s Saleh Muhammad on the earth after his magnificent break
of 147 in the afternoon session, with a 4-2 victory. Saleh, who was
roaming around for five hours at venue after his winning his match
because of delayed opening ceremony, started poorly by dropping the
opening two frames.
Though, he fought back to level the score 2-all. But Yasin blanked
Saleh 85-0 with a break of 61 and sealed the fate of the match by
another break of 61.
Second seed Khurram Agha launched his campaign in the competition
with straight forward 4-0 victory over Yusuke Tanaka of Japan.
However Khurram failed to produced his best during the match
mustering a break of 52 in the final frame.
2003 World Amateur Champion Pankaj Advani smashed a superb break of
129 in the opening frame while crushing Omar Ali Alajani of Saudia
Arabia 4-1. Advani good break-building touch as he also made the
breaks he got the breaks of 65, 41, and 65 during the match.
Third century break (107) of the opening day was raised by Thai Star
Noppodil Sangnil while registered an emphatic 4-0 win over Lin Su
Hung of Chinese Taipei.—APP
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