KARACHI, Feb 26 The National Junior Snooker championship which concludes on Friday will throw a new champion as title holder Ayaz Khan was sent packing in the quarter-finals on the penultimate day at the Karachi Club.

Ayaz, who beat Ahsan Javed 5-1 to clinch maiden national title of his career last year, met his fate when he was routed by Punjab junior champion Mohammad Afzal 4-0. Afzal was home 60-47, 56-36, 71-16, 52-32 in style.

However, Afzal too met his destiny when he was knocked out by province-mate Asjad Iqbal 4-1 in the semi-final. Asjad piled up a magnificent break of 89 in the fourth frame while registering 74-41, 72-62, 11-72, 95-1, 67-30 victory over his opponent to move into final.

Asjad is drawn to meet Punjab`s promising Hamza Akber for the title clash as the latter subdued Sindh Junior Cup runner up Agha Bilawal 4-2 in the other pre-final.

Playing his second match of the day, Hamza who topped group A, remained in contention of the title by getting the better of local player 66-36, 47-60, 18-56, 120-86, 41-31, 72-20. Earlier, he inflicted 4-1 defeat on Balochistan`s Abdul Raziq in the quarter-final.

In the other two quarters played in the morning, Agha Bilawal notched up 4-1 victory over Hamid Yunus while Asjad Iqbal ended the pretentions of Qamar Zaman Khan by the identical scoreline.

Results

Semi-finals Hamza Akber (Punjab) bt Agha Bilawal (Sindh) 4-2 (66-36, 47-60, 18-56, 120-86, 41-31, 72-20); Asjad Iqbal (Punjab) bt Mohammad Afzal (Punjab) 4-1 (74-41, 72-62, 11-72, 95-1, 67-30).

Quarter-finals Hamza Akber (Punjab) bt Abdul Raziq (Balochistan) 4-1 (44-55, 50-41, 82-20, 54-52, 70-15); Agha Bilawal (Sindh) bt Hamid Yunus (Punjab) 4-1 (79-23, 49-56, 63-31, 77-1, 54-34); Asjad Iqbal (Punjab) bt Qamar Zaman Khan (Punjab) 4-1 (72-49, 38-72, 60-16, 59-9, 58-35); Mohammad Afzal (Punjab) bt Ayaz Khan (Punjab) 4-0 (60-47, 56-36, 71-16, 52-32).

Friday`s fixtures

Hamza Akber v Asjad Iqbal (final) 2.30pm.