Asjad takes on Sajjad in national snooker final

Published
0

Sajjad, who lost his national crown to Mohammad Asif last year, survived a scare when he fought back from 1-3 down to turn the tables on his opponent winning 6-4 —File P
Sajjad, who lost his national crown to Mohammad Asif last year, survived a scare when he fought back from 1-3 down to turn the tables on his opponent winning 6-4 —File Photo
KARACHI After making an impact in the juniors circuit last year, the highly talented qualifier Asjad Iqbal has reached the final of the 35th National Snooker Championship by outclassing 12th ranked Mohammad Jawed 6-2 in the all-Punjab first semi-final at Karachi Gymkhana on Sunday.

He is set to meet country's top player and his mentor Mohammad Sajjad in the Monday's title clash after the latter rallied to overcome fighting Sindh's Sohail Shehzad 6-4 in the other pre-final.

By virtue of making it to the final, Asjad and Sajjad have booked a passage for Thailand where 26th Asian championship takes place from May 8 to 15.

The former has already represented Pakistan in the IBSF World under-21 Snooker Championship in Iran in the preceding year.

Making his maiden appearance in the country's premier championship of the game, the former national junior champion who edged past Shehram Changezi 5-3 in quarters on Saturday, recovered after he saw 1-0 lead slipped from his hands to post magnificent 6-2 victory over his opponent.

He won the four-hour encounter 51-44, 18-92, 43-64, 70-22, 50-44, 57-22, 92-28, 61-26.

Contrary to the first semi-final, the second between Mohammad Sajjad and Sohail Shehzad was fought fiercely.

Sajjad, who lost his national crown to Mohammad Asif last year, survived a scare when he fought back from 1-3 down to turn the tables on his opponent winning 6-4 the scores being 30-80, 74-26, 40-78, 65-94, 70-1, 82-36, 79-48, 70-51, 32-63, 65-42.

Sajjad also piled up two steady breaks of 70 and 55 in the seventh and eighth frames respectively while his opponent hammered a break of 70 in the third.

The winner will receive Rs50,000 while the runner up earns Rs30,000 out of total prize money of RS125,000.

Results
Semi-finals
Asjad Iqbal (Punjab) bt Mohammad Jawed (Punjab) 6-2 (51-44, 18-92, 43-64, 70-22, 50-44, 57-22, 92-28, 61-26); Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab) bt Sohail Shehzad (Sindh) 6-4 (30-80, 74-26, 40-78, 65-94, 70-1, 82-36, 79-48, 70-51, 32-63, 65-42).

Opinion

Editorial

Parliament’s place
11 Oct, 2026

Parliament’s place

MUCH has changed in just a little over a decade. In 2015, when the question of Pakistan’s involvement in the...
Disturbing the peace
11 Oct, 2026

Disturbing the peace

THIS year’s Nobel Peace Prize is well-earned. The winner, South African jurist Dr Navi Pillay, has had an...
A voice in care
10 Oct, 2026

A voice in care

WORLD Mental Health Day this year carries a compelling message. The theme, ‘Lived experiences heard: real voices,...
Midterm break
Updated 10 Oct, 2026

Midterm break

Both the US and Israel need to halt their destructive misadventures in the Middle East.
American barbarism
Updated 10 Oct, 2026

American barbarism

WITH the spectre of defeat in the upcoming midterm elections looming large over the Trump administration, the...