Asian Snooker: India loses to Iran in final

Having lost the opening round 53-65(52), the Iranians came back strongly to take the lead with 54-07 and 77-01 wins. India levelled the scores with a 64-69 win but lost out in the decider 74-40.

Indian cueists Pankaj Advani (R) and Aditya Mehta.

Iran beat India 3-2 to win the Asian Snooker Team Championship in Abu Dhabi.

Having lost the opening round 53-65(52), the Iranians came back strongly to take the lead with 54-07 and 77-01 wins. India levelled the scores with a 64-69 win but lost out in the decider 74-40.

Earlier in the semi-finals, ace cueists Pankaj Advani and Aditya Mehta combined forces to power India past arch-rival Pakistan 3-0 today.

Mehta, India’s lone professional snooker player, gave the country a grand start when he drubbed Mohammed Asif 73-16 in the opening game of the semifinal. Thereafter Advani, recently crowned the continent’s 6-Red champion, showed impressive touch to outclass Asjad Iqbal 83-25 to give India a 2-0 lead.