The Hindu : Sport : Pankaj Advani and Alok have a mixed day

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 26, 2005

Sport

Sport

Pankaj Advani and Alok have a mixed day

Michael Ferreira

BANGKOK: : The performance of the Indian contingent at the Sangsom Asian snooker championship on Monday was like the curate's egg — good in parts. Both defending champion Alok Kumar and last year's runner-up Pankaj Advani lost one of their two scheduled matches.

In the first session of the day, Alok beat the feisty Sri Lankan S Aslam 4-2 with one good contribution of 75 lighting up a generally below par display.

The sombreness of his mood continued in the 4 p.m. session when he lost to Thai no 1 Nittiwat Kanjanasri 2-4.

Pankaj's morning match against Pramual Janthad was the crucial one of his group. Staging a spirited comeback from 0-2 to lead 3-2, Pankaj was unable to hold off the determined Thai who took advantage of three slices of luck at the right time to win the low-scoring decider and virtually cemented his place at the top of his group.

Downhearted

Somewhat downhearted at the result, Pankaj allowed the unheralded Japanese player Tetsuya Kuawata to test his resolve in his afternoon encounter before finally falling across the line 4-2.

To ensure that he qualifies, Pankaj is in a must-win situation against the unpredictable Hing Chung-Ming of Taipei who has already been beaten by Pramual.

Much to the relief to the Indian camp, Manan Chandra kept his slate squeaky clean, beating Ahmad Al-Tarkait (Kuw) 4-1 with a 59 as his highest contribution of the match.

There were other noteworthy performances: Kobkit Palajin, of the host country and currently the world under-21 runner-up had a brilliant 135 clearance in his 4-0 demolition of Myanmar's Nay Thawe Oo and Jin Long, former Asian runner-up had 101, 53 and 96 in accounting for Tayef Kader (BD).

The stocky Pathan Saleh Mohammed rifled in 71, 55 and 115, his second ton in as many days, against Cheung Chun Hin (HK), and Chinese champion Cai Jiangzhon had runs of 88, 101and 63 in beating the hapless Kim Do-Hoon (Kor) 4-0.

We always knew Cai to be a fine player, but our collective respect for him rose a few notches after learning of his 5-1 demolition of his famed countryman Ding Jun-Hui in the final of the Red Bull Asian Championship in China last month.

Cai, whose close resemblance to former national champion Sarang Shroff provokes much mirth in the Indian camp, as well as compatriot Long are certainly the ones to watch out for in the days to come.

Rousing start

Pramual got off to a rousing start against Pankaj, winning the first frame 76-15 with a series of effective breaks as the young Indian struggled to find his touch.

With neither contestant inclined to take any chances, the second frame was reduced to a series of rather inglorious single red and colour sequences with the Thai finally prevailing to move 2-0 ahead.

The signs were ominous when Pramual opened with a 31 in the third, but Pankaj responded with a 32 followed by a superb 62 clearance reminiscent of his best form. Clearly perked up, Pankaj clinched the fourth frame with a superb long blue after Janthad, trailing 0-65, hauled himself back into the frame with a gritty 53.

Pankaj added the fifth with a brilliant 76 to edge to 3-2, but Pramual punished some indifferent safety by his opponent to take the sixth 68-1.

As the match was now close to the start of the next session, the players were pulled off the table to resume the contest on the first free table of the next session.

The tension packed final frame was the match was poised on a knife edge, but three slices of ill-luck did Pankaj in. The first was a six-shot at 22-22 in the low-scoring frame; the second was an in-off at 22-30, and the coup de grace was a fluked last red by his opponent at 30-22.

Selected results: Alok Kumar bt S. Aslam (SL) 4-2 (34-62, 124(75)-0, 80-28, 40-68, 90-22, 74-25); lost to Nittiwat Kanjanasri (Thai) 2-4 (45-68, 15-76(69), 42-62(61), 64-33, 69-49, 8-75).

Pankaj Advani lost to Pramual Janthad (Thai) 3-4 (15-76, 44-57, 107(32,62 cl)-31, 80-53(53), 76(76)-25, 1-68, 22-49); bt Tetsuya Kuawata (Jpn) 4-2 (16-61, 72-24, 70(56)-8, 72-9, 9-55, 71-47).

Manan Chandra beat Ahmad Al Tarkait (Kuw) 4-1 (56-77, 62-54, 88(59)-0, 77-18, 63-30).

Saleh Mohammed (Pak) beat Cheung Chung Hin 4-2 (94(71)-15, 65-49, 54-64, 113(55)-10, 36-66, 115(115)-0).

Cai Jianzhong (Chn) beat Kim Do-Hoon (Kor) 4-0 (74-9, 32-51, 88(88)-0, 1119101)-14, 2-54, 76(63)-8).

Noppadon Sangnil (Thai) beat Ricky Chew (Sing) 4-2 (96(88)-1, 69(51)-15, 18-54, 1-60, 60-58, 73-19).

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