KARACHI, Oct 11: Pakistan will be hoping for better results from its duo of Khurram Hussain Agha and Saleh in the 29th World Snooker Championship which breaks-off at Ching Ming City (China) from Sunday.

Twenty five year-old Khurram Agha is appearing in his second global contest but Saleh is participating in his 10th world championship.

Karachi-born Khurram lost in the pre-quarterfinal stage in his maiden championship at Cairo. Saleh, who finished third in the world competition in 1998 in China, however he went down in the knockout stage in the last event in Egypt.

Khurram is showing great form in recent events and he ended the national calendar by winning back-to-back titles of Red and White Cup and Latif Masters.

“If he focusses himself during the championship Khurram hasgot a lot of potential to reach the top”, Asghar Valika, President of PBSA said on the eve of the championship. “We have lot of hopes from Khurram if he lives up to his reputation”, he added.

Eight eight cueists representing around forty countries are taking part in the 15-day event which will conclude on Oct 25.

Interestingly another Pakistani, Lahore-born Farhan Mirza who entered the competition representing Sweden later withdrew from the championship.

He withdrew when told by PBSA that he will be barred from representing Pakistan if he represented Sweden.

Farhan was drawn in pool “D” with Saleh while Khurram Agha is placed in pool “E”.

After players and officials meeting on Saturday event will go into action from Sunday morning. following are the groups:

Group A: Jamie O’Neill (England), Benjamin Lee Poh Soon (Malaysia), Tian Pengeet (China), Keith Boon Aun (Singapore), J.B.Johannesson (Iceland), Ben Farnworth (new Zealand), Kuri Stock (Germany), S.Moosa (Mauritrius), Joe Minici (Australia), Naoki Matsuzaki (Japan).

Group “B”: Ahmed Saif (Qatar), Phaithoon Phonbun (Thailand), Daniel Haenga (New Zealand), China-7, Lee Spick (England), Moh Keen Ho (Malaysia), Olar Poholmann (Germany), Kaszalo Penzus (Hungary), Yvan Van Velthoven (Belgium), Muhammad El Khyat (Egypt), Takao Kurimoto (Japan).

Group “C”: David Anderson (South africa), Declan Javery (N.Ireland), Jin Long (China), Muhammad Shehab (UAE); Leong Kuok Kei (Macau), Martin McCrudden (Ireland), Viliame Umu (Fiji), Pankaj Advani (INdia), Mario Wehermann (Netherlands), Zureish Hashim (Sri Lanka), TBA.

Group “D”: Mei Xiwen (China), Saleh Muhammad (Pakistan), Tauriq Samsodien (South Africa), Tim English (Wales), Bobby Cruickshanks (Scotland), Baiazs Hamori (Hungery), Farhan Mirza (Sweden), Roy Stock- - (Netherlands), TBA. James Mifsud (Australia), Po-Hsifnlee (China Taipei).

Groupe “E”: Shannon Dixon (Australia), Elfed Evans (Wales), Costas Konnaris (Cyprus), Sai Huo Hui (China Macau), Mark Allen ( Northern Ireland), Chiang (China), Gerrit Bij Deleij (Netherlands), P.Desvaux (Mauritius), Asgeir Asgeirsson (Iceland), Mohseen Abdul Aziz (Qatar), Khurram Hussain Agha (Pakistan).

Group “F”: Hasham Abdel Salam (Egypt), Jussi Tyrokki (Finland), Alex Puan Yiwei (Singapore), Stephane Ochoiski (France), Rodney Goggins (Ireland), China 5 (China), Nico Devlies (Belgium), Cih Waiau (China Hongk Kong), Gitsue Lum (Fiji), Yasin Merchant (India), Brynjar Valdimarsson (Iceland).

Group “G”: Lee Hwa Meng (Malaysia), Mats Eriksson (Sweden), Alex Borg (Malta), David John (Wales), Fahad Ahmed (Qatar), Fung Kwok Wai (Chian Hong Kong), Liang Wenbo (China), James McBain (Scotland), Risto Vayrynen (Finland), Chi-Yao Chang (China Taipei), Dermot McGlinchey (Northern Inland).

Group “H”: Ben Woolaston (England), Susantha Boteju (Sri Land), Duncan Bezzina (Malta) Yannick Poulain (France), Alok Kumar (India), Brendan O’Donoghue (Ireland), Keng Kwang Chan (Singapore), Craig MacGillivray (Scotland), Mohammed Shehab (UAE), Issara Kachaiwong (Thailand), China No.2.—APP