KARACHI: The Pakistan snooker team, which comprises of top two cueists Mohammad Asif and Asjad Iqbal, is due to fly to the Bulgarian capital of Sofia in the wee hours of Friday to compete in the IBSF world snooker championship which takes place from Nov 24 to Dec 2.

The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) president Alamgir Shaikh and secretary Munawwar Hussain Shaikh will fly to Sofia the following day.

The players and officials appeared in person at the Bulgarian Embassy to submit visa application forms recently and are likely to get them by Tuesday.

Asif and Asjad are practicing at the Karachi Gymkhana for the last three days and continue their session till Wednesday.

It is pertinent to mention that Asif finished runner-up to Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham at the Dubai international open snooker championship earlier this month and won US$2,000 in prize money.

The PBSA chief will be going as a delegate to attend the IBSF biennial elections on the sidelines of world championship while the secretary will join the team as manager.

“The finances for the trip are being managed privately as PSB has not yet released annual grant for the fiscal 2012-13,” Alamgir told Dawn.

Hunain overcame a poor start to turn the tables on his Scottish opponent. -Photo by AFP

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Hunain Aamir registered an emphatic 4-1 victory over Scotland’s Rhys Clark in the decisive league match to earn a place in the last 32 round of the IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Championship in Wuxi, China, on Thursday.

Needing a win, Hunain overcame a poor start to turn the tables on his Scottish opponent by winning the next four frames in a row. He was home 10-69, 85-5, 68-57, 78-44, 68-8.Despite suffering a 2-4 defeat in the last league fixture at the hands of Austrian Alexander Gauss, Hunain’s fellow countryman Mohammad Majid Ali propelled in the knockout round by finishing third in the group.

The Pakistani could only win two frames while going down 64-47, 46-62, 44-70, 1-68, 64-55, 11-90.

Majid faces Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham while Hunain is pitted against China’s Zhou Yuelong in the two last 32 round matches on Friday.

Results:

Mohammad Majid Ali lost to Alexander Gauss (Austria) 2-4 (64-47, 46-62, 44-70, 1-68, 64-55, 11-90); Hunain Aamir bt Rhys Clark (Scotland) 4-1 (10-69, 85-5, 68-57, 78-44, 68-8).
Friday’s fixtures:
Last 32 round: Noppon Saengkham (Thailand) v Mohammad Majid Ali; Zhou Yuelong (China) v Hunain Aamir.

-File photo

KARACHI: Mohammad Majid Ali, the losing finalist of this year’s national junior snooker championship, ensured a berth into the knockout round of last 32 after scoring an emphatic 4-2 victory over Indian Lalrina Rentheli in the IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Championship in Wuxi, China, on Wednesday.

According to results, the promising junior cueist who is placed in group C was home 133-5,108-53, 29-62, 65-49, 39-83, 68-65 to register his fourth win in five games. His triumph include an elegant break of 86 in the opening frame.

Majid is drawn against Alexander Gauss of Austria in the last group fixture on Thursday.

Majid’s compatriot Hunain Aamir, who has national junior title under his belt, tasted his third defeat in five outings by going down 1-4 to Iran’s Alireza Khodaparast in group G fixture.

The defeat 59-41, 44-57, 8-66, 16-72, 40-66 has lessened Hunain’s chances of crossing the first hurdle. He faces Rhys Clark of Scotland in the crucial last league match on Thursday for the fourth position in group. Both have won two and lost three games so far.

Top four players from eight groups will qualify for the knockout stage.

Results:
Mohammad Majid Ali (Pak) bt Lalrina Rentheli (India) 4-2 (133-5, 108-53, 29-62, 65-49, 39-83, 68-65); Hunain Aamir (Pak) lost to Alireza Khodaparast (Iran) 1-4 (59-41, 44-57, 8-66, 16-72, 40-66).

The World U-21 Snooker Championship will be held in China from July 14-22. -Photo by AFP

KARACHI: A two-member Pakistan team will take part in the IBSF World Under 21 Snooker Championship in China from July 14 to 22.

“We would be sending Pakistan juniors for this global event at any cost,”    President, Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) Alamgir Shaikh, told reporters at the launch of third Jubilee Insurance National Ranking Snooker Championship at Karachi Gymkhana Billiards Hall.

“We are facing paucity of funds. But we are trying hard to raise funds for the event and have also written to Pakistan Sports Board,” he said.

He said PBSA will also be sending two Pakistan cueists to attend World Professional and Billiards and Snooker Association coaching academy in Bangkok, Thailand in July and August.

National champion and Asian number two Muhammad Sajjad was included in the team as an additional entry following his run of impressive performances at international tournaments. —Online/File Photo

The Pakistan squad includes national number one Imran Shehzad, Sohail Shehzad and Muhammad Sajjad.

President of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) Alamgir Shaikh will be the manager and official delegate of the team.

National champion and Asian number two Muhammad Sajjad was included in the team as an additional entry for his outstanding performances in the various international tournaments after seeking approval from the International Billiards Snooker Federation (IBSF).

Over 50 nations from across the world will participate in the high-profile tournament.

‘Yes, the team is set to fly to Mumbai by PK 274 at 9.10am,’ the PBSA president, Alamgir Shaikh, told Dawn on Wednesday.

The team consists of Pakistan No 1 Mohammad Sajjad and No 2 Mohammad Asif. They will be accompanied by PBSA secretary Munawwar Hussain Shaikh (manager) and Shabbir Hussain Daruwala (referee).

Following is the schedule of group matches of Pakistani players.

Nov 15: Ahmed Aly (USA) v Mohammad Asif; Mohammad Sajjad v Farhan Mirza (Sweden).

Nov 16: Steve Mifsud (Australia) v Mohammad Asif; Mohammad Sajjad v Juha Erkinmikko (Finland).

Nov 17: Mario Fernandez (Ireland) v Mohammad Asif; Mohammad Sajjad v Mario Van Herk (Belgium).

Nov 18: Ammar Taqi (Kuwait) v Mohammad Asif; Mohammad Sajjad v Girish (India).

Nov 19: Yasin Merchant (India) v Mohammad Asif; Mohammad Sajjad v Lai Chee Wei (Malaysia).