KARACHI: Former champions India and runners-up Pakistan square up against each other in a repeat final of the Asian team event snooker championship at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Wednesday.
Pakistan-2 and India-1 set up a title clash after they conjured up contrasting victories over their respective opponents in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
Pakistan-2 (Mohammad Bilal and Babar Masih) shocked Pakistan-1 (Mohammad Sajjad and Mohammad Asjad) in the fully-stretched battle 3-2 (71-39, 102-13, 45-81, 25-76, 75-34) while India-1 blanked Thailand straight 3-0 the scores being 92-0, 70-8, 62-22.
It is pertinent to mention that India A accounted for Pakistan A 3-2 in the final to win the second Asian team title in Karachi in Aug 2014.
Pakistan, who had performed outstandingly in the preceding 6-Reds event winning a gold and a bronze medal, has a chance to avenge their last defeat.
Earlier, Pakistan-2 fought back twice to stun Hong Kong 3-2 (1-98, 78-32, 52-90, 78-50, 76-25) while Pakistan-1 bounced back to whip Qatar by the identical margin of 3-2 (8-71, 73-5, 69-40, 35-78, 65-40) in the quarter-finals.
Results:
Semi- finals:
Pakistan-2 bt Pakistan-1 3-2 (71-39, 102-13, 45-81, 25-76, 75-34); India-1 bt Thailand 3-0 (92-0, 70-8, 62-22).
Quarter-finals:
Pakistan-2 bt Hong Kong 3-2 (1-98, 78-32, 52-90, 78-50, 76-25); Pakistan-1 bt Qatar 3-2 (8-71, 73-5, 69-40, 35-78, 65-40).
Sunday’s results:
Pakistan-1 bt Saudi Arabia 3-0 (52-34, 75-8, 92-0); Pakistan-2 bt Iraq 3-0 (116-40, 86-32, 82-5); Pakistan-1 bt (Kyrgystan — 2 3-0 (82-5, 82-1, 119-9); Pakistan-2 bt (Kyrgystan-1 3-1 (75-27, 34-69, 97-31, 92-5); Pakistan-1 bt UAE 3-1 (86-19, 46-67, 73-47, 75-1); Thailand bt (Pakistan-2 3-1 (77-17, 56-73, 117-1, 81-10).
Wednesday’s fixtures:
Pakistan-2 vs India-1 final.
Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2017
