KARACHI: The Pakistani junior trio was on song when they taught Indian opponents a lesson in their last league matches to advance into the knockout round of the 19th Asian under-21 snooker championship in Yangon on Thursday.

According to results made available here, reigning junior world champion Mohammad Naseem Akhtar blanked Indian Sparsh Pherwani straight 73-29, 93-38, 54-36, 80-0 to emerge group champion and cruise into the quarter-finals.

Following his footsteps, Haris Tahir sent another Indian Mehul Saini packing 4-1 (50-62, 74-43, 64-18, 90-52, 76-21) to join Naseem in the last-eight.

Mohammad Shahbaz, the third competing in the event, chalked up 4-2 victory over third Indian Shoaib Khan to propel into last-12 round.

Shahbaz produced two half century breaks of 58 and 52 in the last two frames while returning 66-2, 57-24, 17-60, 51-59, 100-9, 67-21 victorious. He was up against Thailand’s Thanaphon Bunplot at the time of filing this report.

The quarter-finals will be played on Friday.

Results:

Mohammad Shahbaz bt Shoaib Khan (India) 4-2 (66-2, 57-24, 17-60, 51-59, 100-9, 67-21); Mohammad Naseem Akhtar bt Sparsh Pherwani (India) 4-0 (73-29, 93-38, 54-36, 80-0); Haris Tahir bt Mehul Saini (India) 4-1 (50-62, 74-43, 64-18, 90-52, 76-21).

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2018