March 28, 2006	Tuesday	Safar 27, 1427

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KARACHI, March 27: Sindh earned a lion’s share of nine spots among the 16 who booked berths in the knock out pre-quarterfinals of the 31st National snooker championship at the completion of league on Monday.

Sindh would be represented by Jawed Ansari, Sohail Shehzad, Salman Shaikh, Naveen Perwani, Irfan R. Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Khurram Agha, Atiq Latif Bux and Vishan Gir.

Punjab earned five places through Abu Saim, Raees Khan, Mohammad Asif, Imran Shehzad and Imran Qamar.

Defending champion, Saleh Mohammad, will lead the NWFP’s challenge along with Rambel Gul.

Vishan Gir who needed a win to qualify for the next stage did it in style by having a 4-1 short work of Punjab’s Asif Haris. He was home 70-56, 70-35, 64-50, 40-65, 54-32.

The best of nine frames pre-quarterfinals will be played Tuesday in two sessions. First sessions begins at 11.00am.

The 13-time champion, Yousuf, is drawn to meet former Pakistan No 1 Khurram Agha at 3.00pm.

In the same session, title holder Saleh is pitted against Imran Qamar. Naveen faces Irfan R. Khan while Atiq will be up against Vishan.

Earlier in the first session, Abu Saim takes on qualifier Jawed Ansari, Raees Khan is to meet Rambel Gul, Sohail Shehzad clash with Salman Shaikh while Asif face Imran Shehzad.

Results:

Kamran Razzaq (Sindh) bt Naeem Jaffar (Bal) 4-0 (51-32, 118-17, 61-6, 67-45); Mohammad Sadiq (Pun) bt Mohammad Kashif (Sindh) 4-1 (40-52, 64-2, 47-9, 59-24, 82-56); Mohammad Sharif (Pun) bt Shah Khan (NWFP) 4-0 (71-21, 58-13, 71-35, 71-30); Yasir Shahzad (NWFP) w/o Abdul Rehman (Bal); Kashif Khan (Sindh) bt Mohammad Yousuf (Bal) 4-0 (51-23, 55-14, 52-38, 53-21); Vishan Gir (Sindh) bt Asif Haris (pun) 4-1 (70-56, 70-35, 64-50, 40-65, 54-32); Farhan Noor (Pun) bt Nauman Awan (NWFP) 4-1 (69-49, 27-66, 54-47, 67-54, 68-3); Rambel Gul (NWFP) bt Mustafa Hyder (Bal) 4-0 (36-19, 54-35, 58-9, 58-14).

Tuesday’s fixtures: (Pre-quarterfinals) 11.00am: Abu Saim v Jawed Ansari; Raees Khan v Rambel Gul; Sohail Shehzad v Salman Shaikh; Mohammad Asif v Imran Shehzad. 3.00pm: Naveen Perwani v Irfan R. Khan; Mohammad Yousuf v Khurram Agha; Atiq Latif Bux v Vishan Gir; Imran Qamar v Saleh Mohammad.