QNA
Players of the Qatari team achieved four victories in the opening of the 36th Asian Snooker Championship in singles.
The Asian Snooker Championship 2021 is organized by the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation until next Thursday, with the participation of the 42 most prominent players representing 19 countries.
Muhanna Al Obaidli started Qatar's victories by overcoming the obstacle of his Jordanian rival Sharif Maita (4-2) in the second strong group, which includes five players, and also witnessed the victory of the Pakistani Babar Masih over the Nepalese Nirmal Bugatti (4-0).
As for the second Qatari victory, it came through Ahmed Seif, who beat the Lebanese Roy Abi Nader (4-1) in the fourth group, which also witnessed the victory of the Afghani Muhammad Rais, one of the contenders to win the title, over the Bahraini Hamad Deif (4-0).
Bashar Hussein achieved the third victory after defeating his Palestinian rival Radi Halabiya (4-0) in the fifth group, which also witnessed the victory of the Iranian Amir Sarkhush, one of the most prominent candidates to win the title, over Omani Hussein Al-Alawati (4-0).
The fourth victory was for Ali Al-Obaidly, after he beat his Kuwaiti rival Saud Al-Abdul-Razek (4-0), in the ninth group, which also witnessed the Iraqi Ali Jalil overcoming the obstacle of his Lebanese opponent, Firas Abboud (4-0).
As for the rest of the results of the Qatar national team, Muhammad Al-Sharshani lost to veteran Iraqi player Ali Hussein (0-4) in the first group, as well as Khamis Al-Obaidly against Tam Yun Fung from Hong Kong (1-4) in the third group, and Mansour Al-Obaidly. Against Cheung Ka Wai from Hong Kong (0-4) in Group H.
In the most prominent results of the first day's matches, the Indian Pankaj Advani, the defending champion and one of the most prominent ranked at the Asian and world levels, beat Nepal's Ankit Man Shrestha (4-0) in the first group.
The Pakistani Harris Taher, one of the candidates for the title, beat Omani Sadiq Al-Farsi (4-1) in the eighth group, and the Iranian Syafush Mozayani beat Jordan's Fawaz Al-Helou (4-0) in the third group.
The Indian Laxman Rawat, one of the most prominent Asian players, beat Yemeni Ahmed Jabhan (4-0) in Group F, Bahraini Habib Saleh beat Saudi Ayman Al-Amri (4-1), and Palestinian Khaled Al-Astal beat Mongolian Inkhergal Akhabatar (4-3). in the seventh group.
On Monday, the Qatar national football team will play balanced confrontations, as Muhammad Al-Sharshani meets with Nepalese Ankit Man Shrestha in the first group, Muhanna Al-Obaidli with the Pakistani Babar Masih in the second group, Khamis Al-Obaidli with Jordanian Fawaz Al-Helou in the third group, and Ahmed Seif with Al-Afghani. Muhammad Rais is in the fourth group, Bashar Hussein with the Iranian Amir Sarkhush in the fifth group, and the Qatari Muhammad Al-Binali with the Yemeni Ahmed Jabhan in the sixth group.
Mansour Al-Obaidli will play two consecutive matches tomorrow, against Pakistan's Harris Taher, then Oman's Sadiq Al-Farsi in Group H.
For his part, President of the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Association Mohammed Al Ramzani expressed his great happiness that the first day of the Asian Championship came out in a distinctive way in all respects, especially in terms of organizational and technical terms, in light of the participation of the most prominent players of the Asian continent.
Al Ramzani said, in a press statement, that the tournaments organizing committee did not leave anything to chance, as all its committees are working in a coordinated manner to bring the event out in the best possible way, especially in light of the federations hosting of three consecutive major tournaments, whether in snooker or billiards.
He added that the first day's group matches were strong in most of the matches and witnessed high technical levels, noting that the majority of Qatar's players appeared distinctively and achieved important victories that would lead them to qualify for the next round.
The president of the federation explained that the reason for Qatar hosting the three Asian, world and Gulf championships in one place in the Messila resort, consecutively for the first time, is to provide all the comfort conditions for the participating players and delegations, as well as to produce the competitions in the best possible way.
For his part, Ali Hussein, player of the Iraqi snooker team, praised the organizational aspect of the Asian Championship hosted by Doha, noting that he had participated in many tournaments on the land of Qatar, but this time is very different and special in light of the application of the highest international standards to confront the Corona (Covid-19) pandemic.
Ali Hussein said, in a press statement, that the precautionary measures followed since the arrival of the participating delegations at Hamad International Airport until the establishment of the competitions according to the medical bubble strengthens the health system of the championship, through which the organizers seek to bring it to safety and ensure the safety of all participants.
The Iraqi national team player explained that he will do his best to preserve his chances of competing on the podiums, noting that his country is capable of achieving a medal in the Asian Championship, as well as competing at the level of the World Championship, as Iraq is a champion of the Arabs and the West Asian region.
For his part, the Qatari, head of the referees committee in the Asian Snooker Championship, Mashlash Al Khayarin, revealed that a meeting of referees was held on the sidelines of the tournament in order to clarify all laws and regulations and to explain any arbitration developments, especially in light of the move away from the management of matches in light of the pandemic.
Al Khayarin noted, in a press statement, the commitment of all players during the matches to the regulations and laws governing the tournament, pointing out that snooker is one of the sports that requires great accuracy and focus, whether from players or referees as well.
He pointed to the participation of 15 referees in managing the continental championship matches, from the first rounds to the final match, pointing out that there are three Qatari referees who run the championship competitions, namely Hassan Sank, Youssef Al Sayegh and Taher Hussein.