Muhammad Asif from Pakistan has made it to the quarterfinals of the IBSF World Snooker Championship after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Ahmed Saif from Qatar in the pre-quarterfinals held in Doha. Asif is now set to compete against Muhammad Shehab from the UAE in the upcoming quarterfinal match.
In contrast, another Pakistani player, Asjad Iqbal, faced elimination after losing 2-4 to Michael Georgiou of Cyprus in his pre-quarterfinal match. Asif’s advancement is a significant achievement as he carries the hopes of Pakistan in the tournament, which has featured intense competition.
Also Read: Pakistan’s Asjad Iqbal Faces Defeat in IBSF World Snooker Championship
Earlier, on August 24, the Pakistani snooker team was barred from participating in the World Under-17 and Under-21 Snooker Championships in Bangalore, India, due to visa refusals from New Delhi. The team, which included cueists Ahsan Ramzan, Hamza Ilyas, and Husnain Akhtar, along with the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association Chairman Alamgir Sheikh and referee Naveed Kapadia, had their visa applications submitted but were ultimately denied despite obtaining all necessary approvals from the Pakistan Sports Board and relevant ministries. Sheikh expressed his disappointment, emphasizing that the visa denial deprived Pakistan of the chance to compete for medals.
In a positive note for Pakistani snooker, on September 18, Asjad Iqbal clinched a bronze medal at the 2024 Mongolia Snooker World Cup in Ulaanbaatar, narrowly losing 5-4 in the semi-finals to Michael Georgiou. The match showcased a competitive back-and-forth, with Iqbal demonstrating strong performance throughout.
Additionally, in July, Pakistan’s snooker team advanced to the semi-finals of the Asian 15-Red Team Snooker Championship after defeating their rivals India with a 3-0 victory, led by Asjad Iqbal and Owais Munir.
