Khurram, Sajjad enters Asian Snooker Quarters
'Pakistan Times' Sports Desk

DUBAI (United Arab Emirates): Pakistan’s fasting rising cueist Muhammad Sajjad Rana and Khurram Agha entered the quarterfinal of 24th Asian Snooker Championship after thrilling 5-4 victories over their respective rivals on Wednesday.

Khurram, who finished third in last year’s Asian in Karachi, may have registered his best win of his career win when beat Macau Indoor Asian Games gold medal Muhammad Mustufa Shehab.

28-year-old from Karachi, Khurram was facing a trouble in the final frame at 01-27 after match was tied 4-all. But a master break of 78 gave Pakistan player entry into the quarterfinal after grueling three hours and 20 minutes encounter.

After losing the first frame, Khurram pulled the next three to forge 3-1 ahead with 56 break in the second. However Shehab fought back to level the terms before making his exit in the deciding frame.

Rookie Sajjad came from 3-4 down to defeat experienced Boom studded a sparkling break of 115 in the fifth day by picking the final two frame in three hours ten minute a nerve shattering contest.

24-year-old Sajjad, who surprised everyone back home by winning the national title on March 25 on his first appearance on the circuit, made a confident start in the pre-quarterfinals by grabbing first two frames that included a break of 62 in the opener.

Sajjad came from 26-59 behind to tie 59-59 and won the frame two on a black ball.

However, in a remarkable turnaround, Aun Boom playing his 7th Asian event, turned his deficit by snatching the next three frames to forge 2-3 ahead.
While youngsters showed fighting qualities, Pakistan’s ace cueist Saleh Muhammad put up highly disappointing show while going down 0-5 against old rival rival Pankaj Advani of India in a low scoring match.

Though Pankaj failed to show any firework but playing tactically and smartly he never allowed Saleh to show little of bit of game after a tight opening frame.
Loh Moh Keen of Malaysia was in magnificent touch and he smashed clearance break of 117 in third frame and also made the breaks of 68 and 50 to out-pot Eissa Al Syed of UAE 5-1.

Lean blond from Kuala Lumpur Keen Moh demonstrated an excellent cue control and strong potting to breez into the quarterfinals.

Debutant Aditya Mehta continued his fine run in the event when stemrolled Susantha Botjeu without much fuss in five straight frames.

22-year-old youngsters from Mumbai Aditya mustered the breaks of 60 and 40 on his way to straight forward victory.

However, two-time Asian champion and last year’s runners-up Yasin Merchant, went down fighting against Jin Long 5-4 despite break of 80 in 5th and 83 in 7th frame.

China’s Bulajaing lost the penultimate frame before completing a comfortable 5-1 win which included a break of 80 in the opening frame.

It was gloom day for the host United Arab Emirates as all their three cuemen Muhammad Shehab, Muhammad Al Joaker and Eissa Al Syed crashed out in the first knock-out stage.

In the quarterfinals late Thursday night Pankaj Advani will take on Bulajaing, Muhammad Sajjad face Aditya Mehta, Khurram Agha meet Jin Long, Moh Keen will clash Fung Kowk Wai.

Following are pre-quarterfinal results:

Muhammad Sajjad Rana (Pakistan) bt Aun Boon (Singapore) 5-4 (67-26, 66-59, 13-77, 34-59, 55-68, 115-0, 17-66, 68-55, 65-15), Khurram Agha (Pakistan) bt Muhammad Mustufa Shehab (UAE) 5-4 (0-1-68, 62-13, 60-57, 59-23, 47-58, 67-27, 01-85, 79-27), Pankaj Advani (India) bt Saleh Muhammad (Pakistan) 5-0 (60-49, 50-0, 50-16, 57-17, 65-02), Aditya Mehta (India) bt Susantha Boteju (Sri Lanka) 5-0 (66-21, 71-22, 64-20, 58-41, 58-49), Loh Moh Keen (Malaysia) bt Eissa Al Sayed (UAE) 5-1 (77-38, 95-05,117-01, 89-6, 24-52, 62-40) A.Bulajing (China) bt Muhammad Al Joaker (UAE) 5-1 (120-11, 66-35, 72-20, 65-05, 51-68, 78-07) Jin Long (China) bt Yasin Merchant (India) 5-4 (11-77, 93-01, 85-04,72-21, 26-88 80b, 84-42, 07-122,31-59, 60-52), Fung Kowk Wai (Hong Kong) bt Au Chi Wai (Hong Kong) 94-01, 55-70, 62-25, 40-92, 08-96, 42-59, 93-30, 65-20, 98-08).●