Still trying to come to terms with defeat: Asif
Pakistan cueist shocked after exiting the IBSF World Championship.
“I cannot believe that I’m not the world champion anymore,” said a distraught Asif. PHOTO: FILE/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Mohammad Asif expressed his shock and disbelief over missing on the chance of retaining his IBSF World Championship title after enduring a 4-3 defeat in his last-64 match against India’s Shabaz Adil Khan.
While talking to The Express Tribune from Latvia, Asif said he had wanted to achieve the feat of being the only player to defend his world title in 27 years at the World Championship.
“I cannot believe that I’m not the world champion anymore,” said a distraught Asif.
“Several hours have passed since I lost to Shabaz, but such is the nature of this shock that I’m still trying to come to terms with it.”
Asif had been sublime in the group stage, winning all six games which saw him storm into last-16.
However, Asif’s luck was not on his side in this match as Khan went on to win by a scoreline of 76-34, 65-15, 34-80, 60-16, 23-75, 23-67 and 71-01.
“Luck did not favour me at all. Shabaz had nothing to lose and was going all out for his shots. On the other hand, being the champion had piled pressure on me and I was trying to be cautious.
“However, I now need to pull myself back and move on to the next phase of my life. Real champions go down and rise again and that is what I will strive for.”
Sajjad only hope for Pakistan in last-16
Asif’s World Team Champion partner Mohammad Sajjad will be Pakistan’s last hope in the event when he takes on Israel’s Shachar Ruberg in the last-16 round after beating Malta’s Duncan Bezzina 5-4.
In another match, Shahid Aftab fell prey to Shabaz after Asif, and went down 5-2.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2013.
Mohammad Asif expressed his shock and disbelief over missing on the chance of retaining his IBSF World Championship title after enduring a 4-3 defeat in his last-64 match against India’s Shabaz Adil Khan.
While talking to The Express Tribune from Latvia, Asif said he had wanted to achieve the feat of being the only player to defend his world title in 27 years at the World Championship.
“I cannot believe that I’m not the world champion anymore,” said a distraught Asif.
“Several hours have passed since I lost to Shabaz, but such is the nature of this shock that I’m still trying to come to terms with it.”
Asif had been sublime in the group stage, winning all six games which saw him storm into last-16.
However, Asif’s luck was not on his side in this match as Khan went on to win by a scoreline of 76-34, 65-15, 34-80, 60-16, 23-75, 23-67 and 71-01.
“Luck did not favour me at all. Shabaz had nothing to lose and was going all out for his shots. On the other hand, being the champion had piled pressure on me and I was trying to be cautious.
“However, I now need to pull myself back and move on to the next phase of my life. Real champions go down and rise again and that is what I will strive for.”
Sajjad only hope for Pakistan in last-16
Asif’s World Team Champion partner Mohammad Sajjad will be Pakistan’s last hope in the event when he takes on Israel’s Shachar Ruberg in the last-16 round after beating Malta’s Duncan Bezzina 5-4.
In another match, Shahid Aftab fell prey to Shabaz after Asif, and went down 5-2.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2013.