Pakistani cueist Muhammad Asif faced a defeat against China’s Zhao Guodong in the semi-final of the World Games snooker event held here at Chendgu in China on Wednesday.
China’s Zhao Guodong, currently ranked 14th in the world, secured a straight 2-0 victory over Asif, ending the Pakistani’s run in the tournament just short of the final.
Following the semi-final loss, Asif will now compete for the bronze medal in a match scheduled on the same day.
It is pertinent to mention that Asif defeated Britain’s Zac Cosker 2-0 in the quarter-final to reach the semi-finals.
In the first frame, Asif secured a 79-15 win, highlighted by an impressive break of 51. He maintained his dominance in the second frame, winning 89-31 to seal the match.
Muhammad Asif’s quest for a gold medal at the World Games came to an end on Wednesday as he was defeated 2-0 by China’s Zhao Guodong in the snooker semi-finals.
Despite a valiant effort, the 36-year-old from Pakistan was unable to overcome Zhao, ranked 14th in the world, who clinched a straightforward win.
Asif, who had been in excellent form throughout the competition, will now shift his focus to the bronze medal match. Although this semi-final defeat marked the end of his hopes for a final appearance, Asif’s performance up until this point had been nothing short of impressive.
Asif had shown his skill and resilience in the quarter-finals, where he comfortably dispatched Britain’s Zac Cosker. Asif dominated both frames, securing a 79-15 win in the first and following it up with an 89-31 victory in the second, thanks to a powerful break of 51 points.
The World Games, taking place in Chengdu, China, have brought together over 4,000 athletes from across the globe, competing in 34 disciplines.
