COLOMBO: Pakistan’s snooker players delivered a commanding performance on the opening day of the Asian 6-Red Snooker Championship 2025, being held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. All three national representatives secured victories in their respective group-stage matches.
Defending champion Awais Ullah Munir began his title defence with a 4-2 win against Macao’s Chi Kin Chan, recovering from an early setback with breaks of 41, 31, 37, and 52. He followed it with a comprehensive 4-0 triumph over Bangladesh’s Ziaur Rahman Azad, registering notable breaks of 65, 47, 43, and an unbeaten 75.
Mohammad Asif, a two-time IBSF world champion, also opened his campaign strongly, defeating Cambodia’s Neang Tola 4-1. Asif displayed tactical precision and control throughout the match, registering two breaks of 37 in the early frames to establish dominance.
Veteran cueist Mohammad Sajjad maintained Pakistan’s unbeaten start with a 4-0 victory over Khalil Busaif of Bahrain. Sajjad remained consistent throughout, sealing the match with a steady break of 33 in the final frame.
Tournament Format and Standings
The championship features 32 players from 13 countries, divided into eight groups. Each participant will play three league matches in the group stage, with the top two from each group advancing to the pre-quarterfinals.
All three Pakistani players now stand in strong contention to qualify for the knockout stage, having begun their campaigns with confidence and composure.
Upcoming Fixtures
Awais Ullah Munir is scheduled to face stiffer competition in his next group match, including a key fixture against India’s Pushpender Singh. Asif and Sajjad will also look to maintain their winning momentum in their remaining group encounters.
Pakistan’s early dominance reflects the depth of its snooker talent and positions the team well for further success in the championship.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.
