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| September 7, 2002 | Saturday | Jamadi-us-Saani28,1423 |
Pakistan down Singapore
KARACHI, Sept 6: Confident Pakistan which beat Singapore 2-1 in their opening group “A” match Thursday will take on Egypt in their second match at Dubai Snooker Club Saturday.
Egypt which went down to UAE “A” in the inaugural match will be looking forward to offer Pakistani trio of Khurram Agha, Saleh Muhammad and veteran Muhammad Yousuf a tough time.
On the second day of the championship United Arab Emirates (UAE) shocked Thailand 2-1 in a Group A tie, according to information available Friday.
On Thursday Pakistan survived a scare against Singapore before notching-up an exciting 2-1 win over Singapore in their opening match in the eight-nation Emarat International snooker championship.
Pakistan top ranked cueists Khurram Agha and Saleh Muhammad succeeded in winning their matches but the most experienced Muhammad Yousuf, a former world and Asian champion, was stunned by an unfancied rival.
Khurram, who is yet to win major title in Pakistan, played quite well to overcome Singapore number one Ang Boon Chin 4-1. Pakistani dropped the second frame before chalking out 52-27, 22-67, 84-33, 78-22, 71-18 win.
Khurram managed to register breaks of 35, 41 and 53 during the last three frames.
Former World number three Saleh Muhammad, struggled to beat Keith Bon Aun. Saleh was trailing by a frame on two occasions but he pulled it back by a break of 53 in the decisive seventh frame.
Peshawar-born Saleh in the decisive seventh frame. He won 78-28, 10-64, 17-64, 72-53, 50-62, 72-33, 74-48.
Muhammad Yousuf, showed flashes of brilliance in only the third frame when he registered a classy break of 98. But it was Lim Chun Kiat who had the last laugh winning the tie 47-49, 51-24, 26-98, 75-34, 54-40, 56-11.
UAE “A”, represented by Muhammad Shahab, Muhammad Al Joker and Essa Al Syed, maintained their winning streak and they did not spare Thailand either. Earlier they had defeated Egypt on the opening day.
With two straight wins UAE “A” appear nicely poised to win a semifinal berth. They are likely to get through to the pre-finals even if they lose one of their remaining two matches which would be against Singapore and Pakistan.
Essa Al Syed was the UAE hero once again. The highly gifted cueist from Abu Dhabi, after winning the decider against Egypt on Wednesday, kept up his good form and won the crucial tie against Thailand too.
Muhammad Shahab put UAE in command by beating Somporn Kunthwanag 4-1 but former world number two Noppadon Noppachorn revived Thailand’s hopes by blasting Muhammad Al Joker in straight frames.
Essa Al Syed did it against Nithiwat Kajanasri winning in straight frames.
In the other matches to be played Saturday, India will be trying their luck against Hong Kong, UAE A will face Singapore ad UAE “B” will battle it out with Malaysia.—APP
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