IBSF World Championship: Pakistan cueists continue impressive run in Latvia

The quartet of Asif, Sajjad, Aftab and Shehzad win in international event.

KARACHI: Pakistan cueists Muhammad Sajjad, Shahid Aftab and Mohammad Asif recorded comprehensive victories at the IBSF World Championship in Daugavpils, Latvia on Sunday.

Pakistan is fielding four cueists including defending champion Asif, Sajjad, Aftab and Imran Shehzad in four different groups.

The players are competing in the round robin matches with each group including seven players. The championship is featuring players in 20 groups, while the top 96 players will progress into the next round.

Former Asian number two Muhammad Sajjad registered his third win in the championship against French player Stephane Ochoiski in Group E.

He outclassed Ochoiski 4-0. Sajjad took the first frame 80-22 and continued with his form in the second, as he secured 2-0 lead with a break of 88.

The Sargodha player sealed the win in the next two frames, 56-36, 85-37. He is leading Group E with the frame-difference of one, winning 12 frames in three matches and losing just one. Earlier, he defeated Lithuania’s Andrej Maksimov 4-0 and Latvia’s Janis Bindze 4-1.

Meanwhile, Shahid Aftab also complemented Sajjad’s win in Group J. He defeated another French cueist Adrien Frostin 4-0.

The 31-year-old is also leading his group with three wins in the competition so far; he has won a total of 12 frames and lost only three.

On the other hand, Asif, who vowed to do his best in order to retain his title at the World Championship, also led Group A with his victory against Germany’s Lukas Kleckers 4-1 late Saturday night.

Asif has also won his three matches to date similarly to Sajjad and Shahid.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2013.

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