Snooker: Imran into semis despite dengue strain

Agha, Aftab, Toba complete last-four line-up at snooker event.

KARACHI: Top-seed Imran Shahzad, who has not fully recovered from dengue, cruised into the semi-finals of the third Jubilee General Insurance Ranking Snooker Championship after a 5-3 victory over Abdul Sattar yesterday.

Meanwhile, Khurram Agha, Asif Toba and Shahid Aftab also advanced into the last-four of the tournament, the winner of which will represent Pakistan in the World Championship in India next month.

Suffering from dengue just two weeks ago, Shahzad showed no signs of weaknesses, improving each day with the cue despite an upset by the unseeded Farrukh Usman in his first match. Shahzad won the quarter-final despite Sattar winning the first two frames 68-22 and 74-38. The top-seed hit back with a 69-25 win and took a 4-2 lead by securing the next three frames 68-52, 64-05 and 75-22. Despite Sattar reducing the deficit, Shahzad wrapped up the match by winning the eighth frame 48-2.

“I took a risk by playing despite the doctor advising me complete bed-rest for two weeks,” Imran told The Express Tribune. “Although I’ve lost a lot of stamina, I will give my best in the remaining matches with the prize at stake.”

Shahzad takes on former national champion Aftab in the semi-final today after the latter ended Sultan Mohammad’s fine run in the tournament with a 5-2 win. The other semi-final will be played between former Asian Championship finalist Agha and Toba.

Agha, yet to lose in this year’s edition, edged out Sharjeel Mehmood 5-4 with scores of 68-23, 54-46, 33-72, 35-80, 07-48, 76-41, 39-73, 78-45 and 81-44. Toba sealed his place in the semi-finals with a 5-1 win over the highly talented  Asjad Iqbal .

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2011.