Top snooker players off to winning start
Sajjad, Imran, Asjad win on opening day of championship.
Pakistan’s top snooker players made a winning start on the opening day of the 36th National Snooker Championship. Pakistan ace Imran Shahzad beat Naeem Jaffer 4-0 while Asjad Iqbal defeated Faisal Kashmiri 4-2.
Asian number two Mohammad Sajjad outclassed Kamranur Rehman 4-2 while Sohail Shahzad beat Abdul Rehman 4-0. Imran Qamar rallied hard but finally overcame former national champion Mohammad Yousuf 4-3.
Iqbal lost the first frame to Kashmiri but fought back in the next two to win 81-28, 78-19 before the latter hit back to clinch a thriller 58-49. However, the Punjab cueist won the next two frames. Qamar too was off to a terrible start but hit back in the next three before the former world amateur champion won the next frame convincingly 56-15. But Qamar won the decider 76-46.
Sajjad was dealt a blow when he surprisingly lost the first frame 63-33 but was soon back to his best as he clinched the next four frames to seal Rehman’s fate. Meanwhile, Mohammad Asif beat Khurrum Agha 4-3 and Muhammad Shahid beat Sharjeel Mehmood as the day was dominated by the Punjab cueists.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2011.
Asian number two Mohammad Sajjad outclassed Kamranur Rehman 4-2 while Sohail Shahzad beat Abdul Rehman 4-0. Imran Qamar rallied hard but finally overcame former national champion Mohammad Yousuf 4-3.
Iqbal lost the first frame to Kashmiri but fought back in the next two to win 81-28, 78-19 before the latter hit back to clinch a thriller 58-49. However, the Punjab cueist won the next two frames. Qamar too was off to a terrible start but hit back in the next three before the former world amateur champion won the next frame convincingly 56-15. But Qamar won the decider 76-46.
Sajjad was dealt a blow when he surprisingly lost the first frame 63-33 but was soon back to his best as he clinched the next four frames to seal Rehman’s fate. Meanwhile, Mohammad Asif beat Khurrum Agha 4-3 and Muhammad Shahid beat Sharjeel Mehmood as the day was dominated by the Punjab cueists.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2011.