KARACHI: Last year’s runner-up Muhammad Sajjad of Pakistan has been top seeded for the 27th Asian Snooker Championship being staged at Indore (India) from April 23-30, Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association announced here on Tuesday. According to the draws of the event received from Asian Confederation of Billiards (ACBS) besides Sajjad, Pakistan number one Imran Shahzad and Muhammad Shahid Aftab will be representing Pakistan in the continental gala.Indian’s former World Amateur Snooker Champion Pankaj Advani has been seeded two. Three-time ex-Asian Champion Yasin Merchant seeded three and another former Asian Champion Jin Long has been seeded fourth.
Former Pakistan World championship runner-up Saleh Muhammad will be representing Afghanistan in the event.48 cuemen representing 19 nations including half a dozen cueists from the host India will be battling for the top honors in 8-day championship.Group “A” Muhammad Sajjad (Pakistan), Muhammad Al-Joaker (UAE), Ahamad Adnan Abdullah (Jordan), Ali Nassar Al-Obaidy (Qatar), Ahmed Hasan Hadi (Iraq).Group “B” Pankaj Advani (India), Yutapop Pokpoj (Thailland), Hiroshi Matsumra (Japan), Sergelen Batdelger (Mongolia), Lim Chun Kiat (Singapore).Group “C’ Yasin Merchant (India), Mohammad Al Sheikh (Bahrain), Suleiman Omar (Jordan), Muhammad Shahid Aftab (Pakistan), Hossein Vafeai Ayouri (Iran).Group “D” Jin Long (China), Saleh Muhammad (Afghanistan), Baldandorj Batsukh (Mongolia), Yaqoub S.M. Al Enezi (Kuwait), Fung Kwok Wai (Hong Kong).Group “E” Noppadal Sangnil (Thailand), Karam Fatima (Syria), I.H. Manudev (India), Chul Ho Hwang (Korea), Lau Ka Lam (Hong Kong), Mohammad Rais Senzahi (Afghanistan).Group “F” Passakorn Suwannawat (Thailand), Imran Shahzad (Pakistan), Kamal Chawla (India), Micheal Angelo Mengorio (Philippines), Mubarak Kh Al Owais (Kuwait), Eh Heydrainezhadn (Iran). Group “G” Tian Pengfei (China), Omar Alkojah (Syria), Lucky Vatnani (India), Tae Hoon Jung (Korea0, danny lam Tuck Weng (Singapore), Ahmed Ghuloom (Bahrain).Group “H” Muhammad Shaheb (UAE), Aditya Mehta (India), Alvin Ambatali Barbero (Philippines), Ahmed Saif (Qatar), Satoshi Nakamura (Japan), Ali Hussain Ali (Iraq).
