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KARACHI Playing one of the best matches of their career, Asjad Iqbal, a former national junior champion, and Mohammad Javed, both from Punjab, crossed yet another hurdle registering spectacular victories over fancied players to sneak into semi-finals of the 35th National Snooker Championship at Karachi Gymkhana on Saturday.
Asjad recovered from two frames down to topple Shahram Changezi 5-4 while Javed fought neck-and-neck to subdue former Pakistan No 1 Khurram Agha 5-4 in the fully stretched battle.
Joining the above two in semi-finals were country's top cueist Mohammad Sajjad of Punjab and Sohail Shehzad of Sindh. The former conceded three frames while notching up 5-3 win over Imran Qamar whereas the latter edged past Mohammad Akmal by the identical margin of 5-3.
Making his maiden appearance in the country's premier snooker championship as a qualifier, Asjad exhibited fine potting skills to post 29-62, 11-56, 61-23, 62-39, 71-48, 55-28, 42-69, 63-49 victory over Punjab Cup champion.
After conceding the first two frames 29-62 and 11-56, he not only drew level but surged to 4-2 lead taking four frames 61-23, 62-39, 71-48, 55-28 in one hand. He again lost the seventh frame 42-69 only to seal the fate by grabbing the next 63-49.
Playing on the next table, Mohammad Javed kept the fraternity of the baize game on their toes when he pulverised former Asian No 3 Khurram Agha 5-4 in nerve tingling encounter.
After making a brisk start Javed shot into 2-0 lead winning 69-31, 75-13 only to lose the following three 13-90, 45-57, 17-68 and trail 2-3 in the match. He clinched the sixth and seventh frames 58-37, 67-49 to earn 4-3 lead. Javed had no answer to Khurram's fighting abilities as he conceded the eighth frame 48-66 to level 4-4. However, Javed kept his cool to annex the decisive frame 71-58 which earned him a place in the last four.
Sajjad who look desperate to recapture the national crown halted the winning run of another Punjab qualifier Imran Qamar imposing to 5-3 victory.
The former national champion won the battle 59-25, 80-35, 49-61, 0-76, 58-12, 56-29, 28-73, 57-2.
Sixth seed Sohail Shehzad kept Sindh's chances alive when he disposed off Mohammad Akmal 5-3 the scores being 87-50, 22-63, 62-31, 57-2, 31-70, 37-47, 72-13, 62-31.Asjad Iqbal is drawn to meet Mohammad Javed in the first semi-final at 10.00am on Sunday while Mohammad Sajjad meets Sohail Shehzad in the second at 2.00pm.
Results
Quarter-finals Mohammad Javed bt Khurram Agha 5-4 (69-31, 75-13, 13-90, 45-57, 17-68, 58-37, 67-49, 48-66, 71-58); Asjad Iqbal bt Shahram Changezi 5-3 (29-62, 11-56, 61-23, 62-39, 71-48, 55-28, 42-69, 63-49); Mohammad Sajjad bt Imran Qamar 5-3 (59-25, 80-35, 49-61, 0-76, 58-12, 56-29, 28-73, 57-2); Sohail Shehzad bt Mohammad Akmal 5-3 (87-50, 22-63, 62-31, 57-2, 31-70, 37-47, 72-13, 62-31).
Sunday's fixtures
Semi-finals Mohammad Jawed v Asjad Iqbal 10.00am; Mohammad Sajjad v Sohail Shehzad 2.00pm.
