Pakistan’s ace cueists Mohammad Asif and Naseem Akhtar showcased stellar form once again on the second day of the third SAARC Snooker Championship in Colombo, securing victories in their respective matches to qualify for the knockout stage.
Asif, Pakistan’s most decorated cueist, overcame Nepal’s Ankit Man with an authoritative 4-1 win, producing a brilliant break of 54 in the third frame. The final scoreline read 84-9, 25-63, 77(54)-13, 84-20, 60-10, as Asif reaffirmed his reputation as a force to be reckoned with on the green baize.
Meanwhile, Naseem Akhtar demonstrated his class with a hard-fought 4-2 triumph over India’s Paras Gupta. The match saw fluctuating fortunes, but Naseem held his nerve to secure victory with frame scores of 78-20, 15-75, 90-06, 65-42, 23-85, 55-52.
Double Delight for Naseem
Earlier in the day, Naseem also registered a convincing 4-1 win against Sri Lanka’s Mohamed Musharaff, with frame scores of 44-50, 62-22, 71-59, 62-42, 71-08. The victory further underscored the young cueist’s consistency in the tournament.
Asif, having been given a bye in the morning session, entered the evening match fresh and delivered a commanding performance to seal his place in the quarter-finals.
SAARC Snooker Knockouts Awaits
With these victories, both Asif and Naseem have successfully advanced to the knockout stage, which begins today with the quarter-finals. The Pakistani duo now aims to continue their winning streak as they edge closer to the championship title.
Other Highlights from Day 2
- Susantha Botheju (Sri Lanka) defeated India’s Paras Gupta 4-2 in a well-contested match.
- Kamal Chawla (India) breezed past Nepal’s Ayush Gautam with a dominant 4-0 win.
- Ahamed Nizamuddin (Bangladesh) edged out Sri Lanka’s Murugesu Prathap 4-3 in a nail-biting, back-and-forth encounter.
As the tournament moves into its decisive phase, all eyes will be on Pakistan’s Asif and Naseem, who are determined to bring glory to their nation with standout performances in Colombo.
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