China B edge India 3-2 in World Team Snooker Championship opener

India suffered a 3-2 defeat to hosts China ‘B’ in their opening Group ‘B’ match of the World Team Snooker Championship in Guangdong. Aditya Mehta lost the deciding frame to Zhou Jinhao, leaving India needing a win against Turkey

Hyderabad: Former champions India suffered a narrow defeat to China ‘B’ in their opening match of the World Team Snooker Championship in Guangdong (China) on Tuesday.

The 2-3 loss to the hosts in the three-team Group ‘B’ leaves India with a must-win game against Turkey on Wednesday morning.

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India had their chances to get the better of their rivals in the best-of-five-frame encounter. With the match poised on a knife’s edge at 2-2, Aditya Mehta, who gave India the opening frame, frittered away the advantage and allowed the formidable Zhou Jinhao to help the hosts prevail in a thriller.

Down 20-22, Jinhao capitalised on Mehta’s poor safety shot with a crucial break of 23. The Chinese cueist resorted to safety after taking the penultimate red. After a brief cat-and-mouse game, the Indian missed a long red and left it over the top left-hand pocket. The promising Jinhao accepted the generous offering gleefully to seal the frame and match for China ‘B’, who had earlier outclassed Turkey 3-0.

Earlier, Jinhao had defeated Pankaj Advani with a gritty break of 53 in the second frame to draw level with India. Partnering Xu Jianhao, Jinhao later compiled a fluent break of 81 to down Advani and Mehta in the doubles for a 2-1 lead.

Advani brought India back into contention with a splendid win over Ma Hailong. Despite the black ball being out of play, stuck near the top cushion, he made a frame-clinching break of 62 to level the scores at 2-2. However, Mehta, who looked solid in his opening win against Hailong, failed to reproduce the same touch.

Results: Group ‘B’: China ‘B’ bt India 3-2 (Ma Hailong lost to Aditya Mehta 18-94 (54); Zhou Jinhao bt Pankaj Advani 76 (53)-29; Jinhao/Xu Jianhao bt Advani/Mehta 96 (81)-7; Hailong lost to Advani 12-73 (62); Jinhao bt Mehta 60-22).

China ‘B’ bt Turkey 3-0.