Carrom World Cup: Zaheer storms into semifinals

Riaz Akbar Ali and Prashant More also made the semifinals, leaving Nishanta Fernando of Sri Lanka as the other aspirant for the singles crown.

(Representative Image) Zaheer Pasha defeated the reigning world champion Chamil Coorey of Sri Lanka in the men's quarterfinals.

Zaheer Pasha defeated the reigning world champion Chamil Coorey of Sri Lanka 25-16, 24-25, 25-5 in the men’s quarterfinals of the fifth Carrom World Cup in Chuncheon, Korea, on Monday.

Riaz Akbar Ali and Prashant More also made the semifinals, leaving Nishanta Fernando of Sri Lanka as the other aspirant for the singles crown.

There was no such exception in the women’s section, as Rashmi Kumari, S. Apoorva, Aysha Mohammed and Kajal Kumari, who had earlier swept the team title, made the semifinals.

The results: Men (quarterfinals): Riaz Akbar Ali bt Shaheed Hilmy (Sri) 25-16, 25-19; Nishanta Fernando (Sri) bt K. Sagayabharthi 25-8, 25-7; Zaheer Pasha bt Chamil Coorey (Sri) 25 16, 24-25, 25-5. Women (quarterfinals): Rashmi Kumari bt Subha (Mdv) 25-8, 25-14; S. Apoorva bt Roshita Joseph 25-5, 25-24; Aysha Mohammed bt Chalani Liyanage (Sri) 25-9, 24-25, 25-11; Kajal Kumari bt Yashika Rahubaddha (Sri) 25-9, 25-1.