KARACHI, Feb 26 The National Junior Snooker championship which concludes on Friday will throw a new champion as title holder Ayaz Khan was sent packing in the quarter-finals on the penultimate day at the Karachi Club.

Ayaz, who beat Ahsan Javed 5-1 to clinch maiden national title of his career last year, met his fate when he was routed by Punjab junior champion Mohammad Afzal 4-0. Afzal was home 60-47, 56-36, 71-16, 52-32 in style.

However, Afzal too met his destiny when he was knocked out by province-mate Asjad Iqbal 4-1 in the semi-final. Asjad piled up a magnificent break of 89 in the fourth frame while registering 74-41, 72-62, 11-72, 95-1, 67-30 victory over his opponent to move into final.

Asjad is drawn to meet Punjab's promising Hamza Akber for the title clash as the latter subdued Sindh Junior Cup runner up Agha Bilawal 4-2 in the other pre-final.

Playing his second match of the day, Hamza who topped group A, remained in contention of the title by getting the better of local player 66-36, 47-60, 18-56, 120-86, 41-31, 72-20. Earlier, he inflicted 4-1 defeat on Balochistan's Abdul Raziq in the quarter-final.

In the other two quarters played in the morning, Agha Bilawal notched up 4-1 victory over Hamid Yunus while Asjad Iqbal ended the pretentions of Qamar Zaman Khan by the identical scoreline.

Results

Semi-finals Hamza Akber (Punjab) bt Agha Bilawal (Sindh) 4-2 (66-36, 47-60, 18-56, 120-86, 41-31, 72-20); Asjad Iqbal (Punjab) bt Mohammad Afzal (Punjab) 4-1 (74-41, 72-62, 11-72, 95-1, 67-30).

Quarter-finals Hamza Akber (Punjab) bt Abdul Raziq (Balochistan) 4-1 (44-55, 50-41, 82-20, 54-52, 70-15); Agha Bilawal (Sindh) bt Hamid Yunus (Punjab) 4-1 (79-23, 49-56, 63-31, 77-1, 54-34); Asjad Iqbal (Punjab) bt Qamar Zaman Khan (Punjab) 4-1 (72-49, 38-72, 60-16, 59-9, 58-35); Mohammad Afzal (Punjab) bt Ayaz Khan (Punjab) 4-0 (60-47, 56-36, 71-16, 52-32).

Friday's fixtures

Hamza Akber v Asjad Iqbal (final) 2.30pm.