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U21 snooker championship: Akbar satisfied with third-place finish

Pakistan cueist beaten in Asian U21 Championship semi-final.

Our Correspondent June 13, 2014

“I wanted to become the champion, but my semi-final opponent was probably the best player in the tournament,” Akbar told The Express Tribune. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: Pakistan cueist Hamza Akbar, who lost the semi-final of the 15th Asian U21 Snooker Championship 5-2 against Thailand’s Thanawat Thirapongpaeboon, said he is pleased with his overall effort of making it to the last-four round.

The Faisalabad-based youngster said that he tried his best in the semi-final, but his opponent did not give him many opportunities to dominate; the Thai won with a scoreline of 70-38, 14-55, 83-00, 73-31, 82-20, 10-80 and 78-41.

“I wanted to become the champion, but my semi-final opponent was probably the best player in the tournament,” Akbar told The Express Tribune.

“Thirapongpaeboon didn’t allow me to get any chances whatsoever to build up points. He was piling up 60-point breaks so I couldn’t do much. I got the chance to do something in only two frames, but that wasn’t enough.”

He added that this had been his last chance of claiming the Asian junior title, but he would move on from the disappointment by doing well in other tournaments.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2014.

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