In an encouraging development for Pakistan at the World Snooker Championship currently underway in Qatar, veteran player Muhammad Asif demonstrated exceptional skill to secure his spot in the tournament’s crucial knockout phase. His advancement has brought a wave of excitement to the country’s cue sports community.
In the challenging second-round matches, Muhammad Asif successfully overcame a fierce challenge from China’s Pan Yiming, clinching a thrilling victory with a score of four frames to three. Asif’s performance once again highlights his global competence and his ability to handle pressure in high-stakes situations.
Adding to Pakistan’s success, his compatriots Asjad Iqbal and Shahid Aftab also registered victories in their respective matches. Asjad Iqbal defeated Iran’s Hamid Zarehdoust by a narrow 4-3 margin, while Shahid Aftab put on a commanding display to beat Daryl Hill of the Isle of Man (UK) 4-1. During his match, Aftab also executed a beautiful break of 68, showcasing his scoring prowess.
However, Pakistan did face a setback as Muhammad Hasnain narrowly lost his key match to the UAE’s Mohammed Shehab with a score of 4-3.
Following Muhammad Asif’s early qualification for the knockout stage, the fate of the other Pakistani players now hinges on the results of the third and final round, as they aim to progress further into the championship.
