Asian Indoor Games: Sajjad, wrestlers disappoint in respective events

Thailand's Kachaiwong downs Pakistani cueist 4-1 in round-of-32 match

KARACHI: Pakistan's Muhammad Sajjad lost his round-of-32 match 4-1 to Thailand's Issara Kachaiwong at the Asian Indoor and Martial Games singles event in Ashgabat on Sunday.

Pakistan stands in 19th with 20 medals — two gold, three silver and 15 bronze.

In the snooker event, Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) were excepting more medals in the team and individual event. Sajjad won a bronze in the 6-Red event, while the team event was tough where they lost in the pre-quarterfinals.

Pakistan is fielding Asjad Iqbal in the individual snooker event as well.

In wrestling, Muhammad Bilal lost his quarter-final to Japan's Kazuya Kayanagi 10-1 in the 57kg men's freestyle event.

On the other hand, Ali Liaquat got disqualified against Philippines' Robin Catalan in the kickboxing low-kick -51kg event pre-quarterfinals. Similarly, Shafiqur Rehman lost to Jordan's Yousef Qawasmeh 13-3 in the pre-quarter-final of men's point fighting -79kg competition.

There were swimming events on Sunday, in which too the athletes did not win any medals.

On Monday, Pakistan's Maaz Khan will be vying for a medal in the kickboxing full-contact 75kg event semi-final.

In the event, hosts Turkmenistan are leading with 77 gold medals, Iran are second with 20 and China have replaced Uzbekistan on the third place with 18 gold medals.