Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Muhammad Bilal and Babar Masih bagged silver and bronze medals respectively in Doha, Qatar at the Asian 6-Red Snooker Championship as the contingent ended the event on late Tuesday with four medals. Earlier, the current national ranking champion Babar had won the Asian Team Championship with former IBSF World Champion Muhammad Asif, while Bilal got bronze with Majid Ali before the individual 6-red event began. Bilal lost to Thailand’s Tanawat Tirapongpaiboon 7-3 in the final, while the Thai had earlier outplayed Babar 6-1 in the semi-final. Bilal had reached the final after outplaying Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka Wai 6-4 in his semi-final.

Pakistan were unlucky at the draw as well since Bilal faced his compatriot Asif in the round-of-16 and won 6-5 on his way to the final. “It was a good tournament, we’ve got four medals,” Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) official and international referee Naveed Kapadia said. “This was a great show from our players. Last time we got four medals too, but won the Asian individual 6-Red Championship, this time it is the other way around.” He added that Bilal’s minor mistakes cost him the individual 6-Red final. “The final too was good but Bilal ended up making few mistakes and Tirapongpaiboon is an experienced player who capitalised on them.” For now, Pakistan’s three players will be competing in the inaugural Asian Confederation of Billiards and Snooker Asian Tour. Bilal and Pakistan’s Haris were already booked for the event, but Babar carved his place by reaching
the Asian 6-Red Championship semi-final. Kapadia said that the tour will be a tough one for the players. “The tour has former professional players as well and this is the first time an event like this is happening, but our cueists are in good form.”

Published in Daily Times, September 27^th 2018.