India assured of Snooker World Cup medal as Advani, Rawat win

India defeated Iran in the quarterfinal tie 3-0 and will next take on the winner of the match between Hong Kong and Ireland in the semifinal.

File Photo: Pankaj Advani won the second frame against Iran, scoring a 52 break.

India’s leading snooker players - Pankaj Advani and Laxman Rawat - on Sunday assured India of a medal at the IBSF Snooker World Cup in Doha after blanking Iran 3-0.

After last year’s gold medal finish, India is en-route to defending its title.

India defeated Iran in the quarterfinal tie 3-0 and will next take on the winner of the match between Hong Kong and Ireland in the semifinal.

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Rawat opened the proceedings with a 80-50 win in the first frame.

Advani, who has had a productive fortnight in Doha, winning gold and silver in the two previous Asian Snooker Championships - individual and team - won the second frame, scoring a 52 break.

In the doubles, Pankaj and Rawat were close to being stretched to the fourth frame before the former potted a long blue and confirmed the pink to end the tie there.