All set for quarterfinal clashes

By A Correspondent

MUMBAI, OCT. 24. The two world class women cueists from the United Kingdom,

World No. 1 Kelly Fisher and World snooker and pool champion Lisa Quick, will get into action when the quarterfinal round of the third CCI invitation snooker tournament at the Cricket Club of India's C.K.Nayudu Hall on Thursday.

Besides the two Englishwomen, who are seeded directly into the last eight stage, six Indian cueists who have qualified from their respective round-robin groups will be in the fray.

Former champion Varsha Mujmudar and Meenal Thakur, both from Maharashtra, and former National champion Judith Walia of Karnataka advanced to the quarterfinals from Group A, while from Group B, former two-time National champion Heena Khandelwal and Anuja Thakur both of Maharashtra and Karnataka's Chitra Magimairaj made the grade.

Former three-time World champion Fisher, who is placed in the top half of the draw, will launch her campaign against current National snooker and billiards champion Anuja Thakur for a place in the semifinals.

Fisher should not face much problems in her opening match as her opponent Anuja has not being playing to her full potential and was fortunate to pip Pooja Galundia in the final league match to snatch a berth in the quarterfinals. Fisher would then either take on the winner of the other quarterfinal tie between Khandelwal, who is the only player to stay unbeaten in the tournament so far and Walia in the penultimate round.

World No. 11 Quick, who is in the lower half of the draw, faces Meenal Thakur in her opening encounter. Meenal Thakur is unlikely to offer much resistance and prevent the world champion Quick from making it to the last four.

Majmudar clashes with Magimairaj in the fourth quarterfinal to decide who will cross cues with Englishwoman Quick in the second semifinals.

The semifinals to be played on Friday and the final on Saturday will be telecast live by Doordarshan.

The quarterfinal line-up: Kelly Fisher vs Anuja Thakur; Judith Walia vs Heena Khandelwala; Varsha Majmudar vs Chitra Magimairaj; Lisa Quick vs Meenal Thakur.

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