KARACHI: Pakistan’s Mohammad Majid Ali advanced to the quarter-final as compatriot and national champion Hamza Akber met his fate in the 14th Asian under-21 snooker championship in the Indian city of Indore on Friday.
According to the results made available here, junior international Majid, who topped his group, sent Indian Milkeet Singh packing 79-48, 44-70, 62-9, 8-73, 51-77, 84-19, 65-22 to qualify for last-eight stage where he is pitted against Lu Ning of China on Saturday.
Pakistan’s top cueist, Hamza, fell prey to Chinese Zhou Yuelong 2-4 in another pre quarters.
Despite a dismal run, Hamza, who joined compatriot Majid in the last-16 round, came back into the game while drawing level (2-2) after conceding first two frames but could not maintain the pace and bowed out of the event.
The Chinese compiled two spectacular breaks of 102 and 87 in the first and second frames while notching up 102-0, 87-0, 48-77, 32-69, 82-1, 73-22 victory over Hamza, who came up with a break of 51 in the fourth frame.
Earlier in the day, Hamza went down 3-4 fighting to Indian cueist Vishal Vaya in the last league match of group ‘C’ to taste second defeat in four games. By virtue of last defeat, he finished runner-up in the group.
The 19-year-old Pakistani was 2-1 and 3-2 up in the best of seven frames match before squandering the lead. He also conjured up a break of 104 in the second frame.
The Indian made a great recovery to win the encounter 64-37, 12-105, 53-67, 62-42, 35-66, 66-45, 64-50.
Three cueists apiece from hosts India, Thailand and China, two each from Pakistan, Myanmar and the UAE and one from Hong Kong were advanced to the knockout pre quarter-finals.
Results:
Pre-quarterfinals: Mohammad Majid Ali (Pakistan) bt Milkeet Singh (India) 4-3 (79-48, 44-70, 62-9, 8-73, 51-77, 84-19, 65-22); Zhou Yuelong (China) bt Hamza Akber (Pakistan) 4-2 (102-0, 87-0, 48-77, 32-69, 82-1, 73-22).
Group match: Vishal Vaya (India) bt Hamza Akber (Pakistan) 4-3 (64-37, 12-105, 53-67, 62-42, 35-66, 66-45, 64-50).
Saturday’s fixtures:
Quarter-final (best of 9 frames): Mohammad Majid Ali (Pakistan) v Lu Ning (China).—Sports Corresponden
