Pakistani snooker Mohammad Asif won the third SAARC Snooker Championship in Colombo on Friday, according to the state broadcaster. Radio Pakistan reported.
He added that, with an “impeccable performance”, he defeated Sri Lanka’s Thaha Irshath in the final with a “resounding” 5-0 victory, without losing a single frame throughout the match.
The report said the title was Asif’s eighth career title, “highlighting his status as one of the most successful players in the region.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari issued statements congratulating Asif on his victory.
The prime minister said Asif “brought glory to the country by winning the snooker championship” and expressed his wishes for Asif’s future in a statement.
“The nation is proud of Mohammad Asif.”
Meanwhile, a statement from President Zardari stated that “he played his best game throughout the championship, including the final.”
“Mohammad Asif has made Pakistan famous in the game of billiards,” Zardari said, praying for his future success.
Asif reached the final after defeating his compatriot Mohammad Naseem Akhtar 5-3 in a semi-final between Pakistan a day ago.
Asif cemented his legacy in the sport on November 6, capturing his third IBSF World Snooker Championship title with a thrilling 5-3 win over Iran’s Ali Gharahgozlou. However, his bid for a double ended on 9 November after suffering a 4–2 quarter-final loss to Philip Williams of Wales.
Additional APP entry.
