KARACHI, April 29 Reigning national champion Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sajjad are placed in tough pools in the 25th Asian Snooker Championship being staged in the Chinese city of Tangshan from May 2 to 10.

According to groups and draws from the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) on Wednesday, debutant Asif is placed in group `E` with world championship semi-finalist Soheil Vehedi (Iran).

Sajjad is grouped with Ratohupol Pu-Ob-Orm (Thailand), Luong Chi Dung (Vietnam), Nezar Abdullah Asseri (Saudi Arabia) and Shi Hanqing (China).

In the absence of host country`s Jin Long, who won the title in Dubai last year, Aditya Mehta of India, last event`s runner-up, is top seed for the event.

Former Pakistan champion Saleh Mohammad, who had migrated to Kabul, will be representing Afghanistan in the event.

Top two cueists from each group will qualify for the pre quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Pakistan snooker squad leaves for Tangshan on Thursday.

Groups

`A` Aditya Mehta (India), Mohammad Al Joaker (UAE), Nader Khan (Afghanistan), Yutaka Fukuda (Japan), Khash-Ochir Tuvshinjargal (Mongolia), Mahanaa Nasser Alohaidi (Qatar).

`B` Moh Keen Hoo (Malaysia), Yu Delu (China), Lim Chan Kiat (Singapore), Benjamin Gnevarn Jr. (Philippines), Naser M Ali (Kawait), Essam Makawe (Syria).

`C` Issara Kachaiwong (Thailand), Manan Chandra (India), Chooi Yew Wah (Malaysia), Al Ajlani Omar Alib (Saudi Arabia), Anas Marzoki (Syria), Tam Ka-Kei (Macau).

`D` Tian Peng Fei (China), Saleh Mohammed (Afghanistan), Lai Chee Wel (Malaysia), Lin Nia Sheng (Singapore), Yu-Lun Wu (Chinese Taipei), James Al Ortega (Philippines).

`E` Soheil Vahedi (Iran), Mohammad Asif (Pakistan), Nguyen Thanh Nhat (Vietnam), Wong Tat-Keong (Macau), Cao Xinlong (China), Temuujin Tseveendash (Mongolia).

`F` Fung Kwok Wai (Hong Kong), Mei Xiwen (China), Nisar Ahmed Safuddin (Qatar), Amir Sarkhosh (Iran), Takao Kurimoto (Japan).

`G` Ratohupol Pu-Ob-Orm (Thailand), Mohammad Sajjad (Pakistan), Luong Chi Dung (Vietnam), Nezar Abdullah Asseri (Saudi Arabia), Shi Hanqing (China).

`H` Mohammed Shehab (UAE), An Chi Wai (Hong Kong), Abdullah Alkandari (Kuwait), Tarijesh Damani (India), Shu-Hong Lin (Chinese Taipei).—Agencies