Snooker: Asif, Sultan off to winning start in Doha

Cueists notch up easy wins in Asian Championship.

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s  Mohammad Asif and Sultan Mohammad got their 28th Asian Snooker Championship off to a winning start in Doha a 4-3 and 4-1 win respectively..

Pakistan’s number one Asif was involved in a gruelling battle with Palestine’s Khalid Soliman Alastal. Asif was one frame from losing the match, going down 3-1 before hitting back to win 28-60, 64-19, 43-52, 17-66, 79-32, 90-26 and 61-22.

“It was a tough match but I held on because I had the belief to win despite being down 3-1,” Asif told The Express Tribune. “There are some exciting matches ahead so a tough opener can help do away with the rustiness.”

Sultan had easy sailing as he beat Sri Lanka’s M N Mohamed Munshi 4-1 with frame scores of 79-13, 65-25, 42-52, 51-40 and 66-24.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2012.