The pre-quarterfinals of the Asian Men’s Snooker Championship, taking place in Qatar, brought mixed fortunes for Pakistan’s cueists. While Shahid Aftab and Mohammad Asif advanced to the next round with dominant performances, compatriot Mohammad Sajjad saw his journey come to an end after a hard-fought loss.
National champion Shahid Aftab showcased his fine form on Tuesday, securing a comfortable 4-1 victory with scores of 59-54, 63-30, 99(71)-1, 6-65, and 62-38 over China’s Zhou Jinhao in the round of 16. The 43-year-old Pakistani cueist, who had earlier eased past Singapore’s Sunny Wang 4-1 in the last-32 round, continued his march toward the title with another commanding performance.
It was a different story for Mohammad Sajjad, who bowed out after a 4-1 defeat against Iran’s Amir Sarkosh. Sajjad, the national championship finalist, struggled to find his rhythm as Sarkosh took control of the match early on.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s former World Amateur Champion Mohammad Asif battled past South Korea’s Youngjun Park in a nail-biting seven-frame contest, clinching a 4-3 win to book his place in the quarterfinals.
Despite losing the first frame, the 42-year-old Pakistani cueist held his nerve to claim victory with frame scores of 61(61)-71, 91(56)-27, 6-97, 72(56)-60, 10-68, 110(100)-14, and 66-50. Asif now faces Sajjad’s conqueror, Amir Sarkosh, in the last-eight stage.
Pakistan’s emerging snooker talents also made a strong statement in the Asian Under-21 Championship, with both Hamza Ilyas and Ahsan Ramzan registering convincing wins.
With Pakistan’s senior and junior players making their mark in the continental event, the country’s snooker prospects continue to shine on the international stage, suggesting a bright future ahead for the sport in Pakistan.
