Bingtao, 14, became the youngest amateur champion in the history of the event by winning 8-7 against the 27-year-old.
“Though I wanted to become the world champion, I don’t regret finishing as runner-up,” Sajjad told The Express Tribune.
“The fact that the youngster was playing a mega event for the first time reduced the pressure on him, while increasing it on me. That just tilted the game in his favour.”
Pakistan have produced two amateur world champions – Muhammad Yousuf and Muhammad Asif – and now have two runner-ups as well – Saleh Muhammad and Sajjad.
Other than the Faisalabad-based player, Muhammad Asif Toba and Hamza Akbar also participated in the competition, but failed to progress beyond the last 64.
Sajjad added that he had been confident about lifting the title after a comprehensive win in the semis.
“I struck three century breaks in the semi-final so I was very much confident that I could carry the momentum into the final, but it didn’t turn out that way. I will try with all my might next year to win the title,” said the Pakistani cueist.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) President Alamgir Sheikh said that he is happy with the consistent results by the country’s cueists as they have reached the finals and semi-finals of almost all major events in the last 24 months.
Sheikh, who recently lost the IBSF elections for the post of vice president to Maxime Cassis of France, is looking forward to Pakistan hosting the 6-Red World Championship next year.
“It [the elections] was a close fight but that’s in the past. I’m just happy that the 6-Red World Championship will be hosted in Pakistan next year,” said Sheikh.
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