June 11, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 25, 1428

KARACHI, June 10: Hosts Pakistan have a fair chance to end the title jinx and re-establish their identity when the 15-nation 23rd Asian Snooker Championship breaks off at a local hotel on Monday.

All eyes will again be focussed on veteran cueist Mohammad Yousuf who has always delivered when it matters. After reaching the zenith in the world championship at Johannesburg in 1994, he added the Asian crown to his cap on home soil in 1998.

Unfortunately, this title has eluded Pakistan in the past seven editions. These years witnessed a slump in the graph of Pakistani players barring some exceptions.

Being the hosts, Pakistan had an advantage of fielding five players in the 32-man draw. Besides Yousuf other players — Naveen Perwani, Vishan Gir, Khurram Agha and Saleh Mohammad — are competent enough to turn the tables on their opponents on a given day.

Of late, Saleh, the runner-up at the 2004 world championship, has been in the news pertaining to his nationality which was challenged in the court. The Standing Counsel was directed to place the issue of his (Saleh) nationality before the concerned forum for examination at their end and while undertaking such exercise shall afford opportunity to the respondent no 6 (Saleh) at their end.

Players from China, India and Thailand are also in contention for the glory. Chinese Jin Long captured the title two years ago in Thailand.

Both the Indians — Alok Kumar (2004) and Yasin Merchant (1989, 2001) — have also been Asian champions.

Though Thailand’s reigning champion Issara Kachaiwong will not be defending his crown, his countrymen have ruled the Asian meet since its inception in 1984. Their players have done the country proud on no less than 12 occasions.

The seven-day event will see four former champions battling to lift the coming championship.

Though the first session starts at 10.00am, a formal opening match will be held at 2.30pm. Last year’s losing finalist Mohammad Shehab of UAE is top seeded. He is followed by Alok Kumar of India, Thailand’s Supoj Saenia and Liu Chuang of China.

Stringent security arrangements have been put in place for the visiting cueists during the course of their stay in the city.

According to the prize money break-up, the winner will pocket $2500 with the runner-up taking $1200.

The third and fourth position holders will receive $600 and $300 respectively. The highest break performer is slated to earn $100.

Monday’s fixtures:

Mohammad Shehab (UAE) v Ali Nasser Al Obaidly (Qatar), Alok Kumar (India) v Henry Boteju (Sri Lanka), Supoj Saenia (Thailand) v Khurram Agha (Pakistan), Liu Chuang (China) v Buuveibaatar Enkhtaivan (Mangolia) 10.00am; Jin Long (China) v Yutaka Fukuda (Japan), Keith E. Boon (Singapore) v Mohsin A. Aziz (Qatar), Habib Sabah (Bahrain) v Reenat William (Iraq), Naveen Perwani (Pakistan) v Susantha Boteju (Sri Lanka) 12.30pm; Chan Hon Kwan (Hong Kong) v Kim Do-Hoon (South Korea), Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan) v Shimon Tauchi (Japan), Mohamad Al Shaikh (Bahrain) v Nguyen Phuc Long (Vietnam), Puan Yi Wei Alex (Singapore) v Saleh Mohammad (Pakistan) 5.00pm; Chan Kwok Ming (Hong Kong) v Pham Hoai Nam (Vietnam), Thetachaiya Un-Nooh (Thailand) v Ochirbold Begzsuren (Magnolia), Yasin Merchant (India) v Vishan Gir (Pakistan), Mohammad Al Joakar (UAE) v Jung Tae-Hoon (South Korea) 7.30pm.

Roll of honour

ASC Year Venue Winner

1st 1984 Thailand Sakchai Sim-Ngam (Thailand)

2nd 1985 Singapore Gary Kwok (Hong Kong)

3rd 1986 Sri Lanka James Wattana (Thailand)

4th 1987 Malaysia U.Don Kaimuk (Thailand)

5th 1988 Sri Lanka James Wattana (Thailand)

6th 1989 India Yasin Merchant (India)

7th 1990 Indonesia Sam Chong (Malaysia)

8th 1991 Pakistan Chuchart T. (Thailand)

9th 1992 Thailand Praput C. (Thailand)

10th 1993 China Praput C. (Thailand)

11th 1994 Bangladesh Ooi Chin Kay (Malaysia)

12th 1995 Thialand Anurat Wongjan (Thailand)

13th 1996 China Anan Terananon (Thailand)

14th 1997 UAE Anurat Wongjan (Thailand)

15th 1998 Pakistan Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan)

16th 1999 Thailand Noppadon N. (Thailand)

17th 2000 Hong Kong Marlon Manalo (Philippines)

18th 2001 Pakistan Yasin Merchant (India)

19th 2002 China Ding Jun Hui (China)

20th 2004 Jordan Alok Kumar (India)

21st 2005 Thailand Jin long (China)

22nd 2006 Sri Lanka Issara Kachaiwong (Thailand)