25 February 2005	Friday	15 Muharram 1426

KARACHI, Feb 24: After disappointing first three days, Imran Shahzad of Pakistan registered his first win beating Chil Park of South Korea in the Asian Billiard Championship in Pune (India), according to message received here Thursday.

After disappointing first three defeat, national billiards champion beat Chil Park 3-2 in fully extended match. Lahore-based Imran won 83-101, 101-44, 101-63, 86-100, 101-49. However, in his next group "C" match Sourav Kothari of India beat Imran in three straight game. Indian won 101-11, 100-83, 100-64. Former World and Asian champion Ashok Shandilya stormed into the quarterfinal of the championship with dramatic 3-0 triumph against C.Praput of Thailand.

Playing his sixth and final encounter Shandilya needing a win without dropping a game to make into the last-8 round, he surprised Praprut with a brilliant unfinished break of 101 in the second game.

Former world champion shocked defending champion Devendra Joshi 3-1 in their fifth and last tie. But verdict did not prevent both from advancing in the knock-out stage. Pankaj Advani went down to Myanmar's Kyaw Oo 2-3 in their last league round but went into the quarterfinals. -APP