(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Mohammad Asif Claims Bronze as Pakistan’s Singles Campaign Ends at Asian 6-Red Snooker Championship
COLOMBO: Pakistan’s run in the Asian 6-Red Snooker Championship came to an end on Wednesday, as veteran cueist Mohammad Asif bowed out in the semi-finals following a 2-5 defeat against Malaysia’s Thor Chun Leong.
Despite the loss, the 42-year-old Asif secured a bronze medal, marking Pakistan’s only podium finish in the singles category of the prestigious tournament, currently being held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
A Hard-Fought Semi-Final
The semi-final clash was a closely contested encounter, but Asif struggled to find consistent rhythm against the in-form Malaysian player.
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Leong took the first frame convincingly (39-5), setting the tone early.
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Asif responded with a solid 35 break in the second frame to level the score [4-59(35)].
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Leong then pulled ahead by claiming three consecutive frames [41-0, 62(35)-0, 1-43(35)].
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Asif showed determination by taking the sixth frame [34(33)-25], keeping his hopes alive.
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However, Leong closed out the match in dominant fashion with a 70 break in the final frame [78(70)-0].
Focus Shifts to Team Championship
With the singles competition now concluded, attention turns to the Team Championship, which kicks off on Thursday. Pakistan will be represented by two teams in the 16-nation event, which features participation from 13 countries.
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Pakistan 1: Mohammad Asif teams up with Awaisullah Munir.
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Pakistan 2: National champion Shahid Aftab pairs with seasoned player Mohammad Sajjad.
Teams are divided into four groups, with each team playing three preliminary matches. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, where the knockout phase will begin.
A Strong Start for Team Pakistan?
The upcoming team event offers Pakistan a fresh opportunity to make a mark in the Asian snooker circuit. With experienced players like Asif, Aftab, and Sajjad in action, fans remain hopeful for a strong performance
in the days ahead.
