Sajjad overcame the former Asian Under-21 champion with ease in the first three frames 33-25, 66-0, 43-20, before Saenla hit back to take the next three to draw level. But the Asian championship finalist took the decider 56-6 to clinch the match. Sajjad, who is tagged along England’s Ricky Walden, Barry Hawkins, Liu Chuang of China, UAE’s Mohammed Al Joakar in Group H, has done his chances of qualifying to the second round with a win over Saenla.
“Most of the participants in the tournament are from Asia or from Britain. The Asians are relatively inexperienced while the Britons are former champions, so it’s a good mix. But it’s a tough challenge because it requires me to change my style very quickly according to the opponent,” Sajjad told The Express Tribune.
And Sajjad has already won admirers with the International Billiards and Snooker Federation vice-president Ali Asghar Valika predicting a second-round berth for the Pakistani.
“Sajjad performed very well and we are predicting him to go all the way to the knockout rounds,” said Valika.
“If he defeats Walden and Hawkins he has a chance to succeed to the second round.”
Meanwhile, Hawkins defeated Walden 5-4 and Saenla beat UAE’s Joakar 5-2 frames in the morning session.
In other group matches, India’s Manan Chandra lost to Andrew Pagett 5-2, while former champion and England’s Nigel Bond went down to Thailand’s Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm 5-3.
Former World Champion and England’s Mark Selby also opened his campaign with a tense win against Brazil’s Igor Figueiredo 5-3 in their Group C match.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 20th, 2010.
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