Asif defeated Qatar’s Mohsen Bukhshaisha 4-0 in his second Group A match. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
Pakistani cueists dominated the day, winning seven out of the 10 matches played till the second session concluded yesterday.
Former Asian number two Muhammad Sajjad put up an impressive performance, beating Mongolia’s Ulziitogtokh Davaasuren 4-0.
While Pakistanis have done well in the tournament so far, Sajjad believes the biggest threat would come from the players from Thailand.
“After two days, we can’t say if we have a tournament favorite yet,” Sajjad told The Express Tribune. “Asif is the one to beat, but we also have Afghanistan’s Saleh who has won both of his matches. I think the real competition will be against the Thailand cueists because they play international tournaments throughout the year.”
In other matches, Shahid Aftab outplayed UAE’s Mohamed Mustafa Shehab 4-1, while Abu Saim downed Thailand’s Yuttapop Pakpoj 4-2 before beating Omar Al Kojah 4-3 in his second contest of the day.
Former national champion Imran Shehzad lost to Afghanistan’s Muhammad Saleh 4-1, but found his form against Enkhjargaal Enkhbaatar beating him 4-1 in his second match.
Teenage prodigy Humza Akbar also experienced mixed fortunes. He lost to Syria’s Karma Fatima 4-3 in the first session but came back to win against Iraq’s Hussen Jaffar Hady 4-3.
Elsewhere, Afghanistan’s Muhammad Rais Senzai overcame Pakistan’s Abdul Sattar 4-3.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2013.
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