KARACHI: Losing finalist of this year’s national championship Asjad Iqbal joined compatriots Mohammad Bilal and Babar Masih in the last-32 round as Zulfiqar A. Qadir crashed out in the 35th Asian Snooker Championship in Doha on Wednesday.

According to results made available here, Asjad survived scare by getting the better of Singapore’s Kingsley Ang in the fully stretched last-24 round match 63-24, 49-59, 65-10, 71-47, 5-78, 32-69, 74-19.

However, Qatar’s Mohsen Bukshaisha sent Zulfiqar packing 58-16, 77-25, 64-14, 12-79, 46-56, 67-12.

Bilal and Babar who were through to the last-32 by emerging group champions have been re-seeded third and sixth respectively. Bilal faces Mohsen Bukshaisha while Babar takes on Iran’s Amir Sarkhosh.

Asjad will be up against fifth seed Ahmed Saif of Qatar in his next fixture.

Meanwhile, celebrated Indian cueist Pankaj Advani has been unimpressive so far. Drawn in group K, Advani could only win two matches and lost one to finish runner-up behind Chinese Gao Yang and advance into last-24 where he defeated Thailand’s Noppadon Sangnil 4-2.

During the three group matches, Advani could only won 10 frames and surprisingly lost eight.

Results:

Last-24 round:

Asjad Iqbal bt Kingsley Ang (Singapore) 4-3 (63-24, 49-59, 65-10, 71-47, 5-78, 32-69, 74-19); Mohsen Bukshaisha (Qatar) bt Zulfiqar A Qadir 4-2 (58-16, 77-25, 64-14, 12-79, 46-56, 67-12).

Remaining league match result:

Zulfiqar A. Qadir bt Essa Al qubaisi (Qatar) 4-1 (63-42, 80-0, 65-46, 1-60, 64-52).

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2019