KARACHI: Reigning world junior champion Mohammad Naseem Akhtar and compatriot Haris Tahir struggled to beat their opponents to maintain an unbeaten run while debutant Mohammad Shahbaz opened his account in the 19th Asian under-21 snooker championship in Yangon on Tuesday.

According to results made available here, Naseem fought back from three frames deficit to turn the tables on Myanmar’s Thaw Zin Htet in the fully stretched battle 26-78, 48-51, 44-79, 65-32, 57-49, 73-1, 54-16.

Haris was also stretched to limits by Iran’s Amin Sanjael before returning victorious 54-26, 76-12, 46-64, 89-11, 32-81, 39-79, 61-49. His triumph includes two efficient breaks of 52 and 89 in the second and fourth frames.

Shahbaz, the third Pakistan competing in the event, who earliest lost his group opening match to Myanmar’s cueist on Monday, conquered Hong Kong’s Ching Chiu Poon 4-1 with the scores being 61-48, 7-70, 55-11, 93-1, 76-32. The win envisaged a remarkable break of 70 in the fourth frame.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani cueists will enjoy a rest day in the event on Wednesday and will resume their league engagements the following day.

Results:

Mohammad Shahbaz bt Ching Chiu Poon (Hong Kong) 4-1 (61-48, 7-70, 55-11, 93-1, 76-32).

Monday’s remaining results:

Mohammad Naseem Akhtar bt Thaw Zin Htet (Myanmar) 4-3 (26-78, 48-51, 44-79, 65-32, 57-49, 73-1, 54-16); Haris Tahir bt Amin Sanjael (Iran) 4-3 (54-26, 76-12, 46-64, 89-11, 32-81, 39-79, 61-49).

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2018