Asian Snooker Championship: Shahid bows out of event
Pakistan’s last-remaining hope at the Asian Snooker Championship, Shahid Aftab, suffered a 5-2 quarter-final loss at the hands of Thailand’s Passakorn Suwannawat to bow out of the championship.
Aftab, who registered a commendable 5-0 win over UAE’s Mohammedal Joaker in the pre-quarterfinals, was not up to the mark despite a semi-final slot in the 18-nation event up for grabs.
The Faisalabad-based cueist, Pakistan’s top-ranked player, had a shaky start when he lost the first frame 93-3 after missing several opportunities of a decent break. Suwannawat, gaining confidence from a flying start, took the second frame 65-21. However, Aftab’s efforts of making a comeback yielded results when he got one back, winning 65-52 before Suwannawat hit back to make it 3-1 with a 75-25 win.
The see-saw battle continued when Aftab won the next frame 69-55 but the Thai sealed his win in the best-of-nine encounter by winning the next two frames 112-4 and 65-07.
The other two Pakistan cueists taking part in the event, Mohammad Sajjad and Imran Shahzad, were knocked out in the group stages.
Meanwhile, Aditya Mehta and Pankaj Advani also paved their way to the last-four stage. Mehta beat Nappadol Sangnil of Thailand 5-0 while Advani recorded a 5-2 win over China’s Tian Pengefi.
Sajjad wants Pakistan to play series against India
Sajjad, meanwhile, has called for a bilateral snooker series between Pakistan and India.
“There should be more sporting activities between the two countries,” he said. “Snooker can improve our relations.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2011.
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