|
|
|
| September 24, 2003 | Wednesday | Rajab 26, 1424 |
Khurram in semis but misery for Saleh, Yousuf
KARACHI, Sept 23: Top seed Khurram Agha was first to sail into the semifinal of 17th Red and White Latif Masters snooker championship with his fourth straight win in pool “A” when he beat Atiq Latif Bakhsh at Karachi Club Billiards Hall on Tuesday.
However second seed Saleh Muhammad of NWFP and third seed Muhammad Yousuf of KPT both crashed out of the competition after suffering their third defeat in pool “B”.
Imran Shahzad of Punjab recovered after dropping the opening frame to defeat former world champion Muhammad Yousuf 4-2. Later in the day, Farhan Mirza completed the double blow by inflicting 4-2 defeat on Yousuf to enhance his chances for the place in the semifinal.
This was Yousuf’s third defeat after Abu Saim shocked him on the first day of Rs 240,000 prize-money championship. Yousuf, who had dominated Pakistan past many years is now clearing showing signs of decline at the national circuit.
Saleh’s chances of making the last four crashed when thrashed 4-1 by Imran Shahzad in the crucial tie.
Amit Parwani jumped on the top pool “B” when he overpowered Faiq Malik 4-2. Amit won five of his six matches..
While Khurram was assured a place in the last four stage, defending champion Naveen Perwani inched closer to semifinal berth with a hard fought 4-2 win against Atiq Latif Bakhsh.
The 23-year-old Atiq son of Latif Amir Bakhsh in whose memory the event is being played, went out of the race for the place in the knock-out round after three defeats.
Pakistan number one Khurram of KPT got a walkover in his morning session match against Shakeel Bhatti but in his sixth match he maintained his top form with breaks of 74 and 55 in second and third frame.
Khurram has dropped just two frames sofar and got walkover in two matches.
Khurram will clash Naveen in Wednesday’s last league encounter which will decide the group champions of pool “A”.
In match mere of formality arch-rivals Saleh and Yousuf will meet in the final league round tomorrow.
Results:
Naveen Perwani (Sindh) bt Atiq Latif Bakhsh (KPT) 4-2 51-70, 82-01, 32-61, 56-31, 92-44, 77-54; Khurram Agha (KPT) walkover Shakeel Bhatti (Sindh); Shah Khan (NWFP) bt Muhammad Nazir (Punjab) 4-3 53-24, 29-73, 56-46, 61034, 10-72, 44-56, 64-24; Minhas Malik (SIndh) bt Abu Saim (Punjab) 4-3 51-38, 27-57, 47-55, 41-60, 77-48, 56-34, 59-54; Imran Shahzad (Punjab) bt Muhammad Yousuf (KPT) 4-2 25-82, 72-12, 83-29, 53-34, 48-68, 75-50; Saleh Muhammad (NWFP) bt Farhan Mirza (Punjab) 4-2 29-78, 03-64, 84-04, 73-25, 65-64, 88-39 58b; Amit Parwani (Sindh) bt Vishan Gir (Sindh) 4-0 81-30, 74-09, 75-16, 60-41; Muhammad Nazir (Punjab) bt Faiq Malik (Punjab) 4-3 37-63, 35-55, 57-18, 59-09, 115-20, 38-63, 70-40 77b 3rd; Naveen Perwani (Sindh) walkover Shakeel Bhatti (Sindh) Khurram Agha (KPT) bt Atiq Latif Bakhsh (KPT) 4-0 59-51, 99-14, 78-53, 79-02; Shah Khan (NWFP) walkover Rambel Gul (NWFP); Farhan Mirza (Punjab) bt Muhammad Yousuf (KPT) 4-2 63-46, 64-27, 56-65, 79-36, 16-86, 74-80; Imran Shahzad (Punjab) bt Saleh Muhammad (NWFP) 4-1 71-39, 64-50, 03-83, 70-63, 77-09; Vishan Gir (Sindh) bt Abu Saim (Punjab) 4-2 58-69, 93-27, 34-81, 71-61, 66-01, 66-53; Amit Parwani (Sindh) bt Minhas Malik (Sindh) 4-2 65-11, 68-23, 55-27, 34-65, 28-61, 69-31—APP
|
|
|
|
