Sajjad loses in Asian snooker final
KARACHI:
Mohammad Sajjad was defeated 7-3 in the final of the 26th Asian Snooker Championship 2010 in Thailand by local cueist Issara Kachaiwong.
Pakistan’s national champion won the opening frame 49-17 but lost the second courtesy a break of 78 by Kachaiwong. Another break of 65 followed by Kachaiwong but Sajjad prevailed, winning the frame 73-65. However, Kachaiwong convincingly won the next two frames to take the lead for the first time in the match. But Sajjad hit a break of 51 to equalise but Kachaiwong won the next frame to lead 4-3.
It was downhill from there for Sajjad as Kachaiwong won the next three frames with breaks of 81, 80 and 61 as Sajjad managed just 10 points in the three frames combined. It was a disappointment for Sajjad, who beat another local favourite Thanawat Tirapaipongboon 6-3 in the semi-final. He not only hit his fourth century break of the tournament but also made it to the final of the Asian snooker championship for the first time in his career. Pakistan’s other hope in the tournament Asjad Iqbal earlier lost 4-1 in the last- 16 to Sitthidead Sackbiang, who was then defeated by Sajjad 5-2 in the quarter-finals.
Published in the Express Tribune, May 16th, 2010.
Mohammad Sajjad was defeated 7-3 in the final of the 26th Asian Snooker Championship 2010 in Thailand by local cueist Issara Kachaiwong.
Pakistan’s national champion won the opening frame 49-17 but lost the second courtesy a break of 78 by Kachaiwong. Another break of 65 followed by Kachaiwong but Sajjad prevailed, winning the frame 73-65. However, Kachaiwong convincingly won the next two frames to take the lead for the first time in the match. But Sajjad hit a break of 51 to equalise but Kachaiwong won the next frame to lead 4-3.
It was downhill from there for Sajjad as Kachaiwong won the next three frames with breaks of 81, 80 and 61 as Sajjad managed just 10 points in the three frames combined. It was a disappointment for Sajjad, who beat another local favourite Thanawat Tirapaipongboon 6-3 in the semi-final. He not only hit his fourth century break of the tournament but also made it to the final of the Asian snooker championship for the first time in his career. Pakistan’s other hope in the tournament Asjad Iqbal earlier lost 4-1 in the last- 16 to Sitthidead Sackbiang, who was then defeated by Sajjad 5-2 in the quarter-finals.
Published in the Express Tribune, May 16th, 2010.