India blank Bangladesh 3-0 to start snooker team campaign

India started its Asian Snooker Team Championship campaign with a dominant 3-0 win over Bangladesh, as Pankaj Advani, Aditya Mehta and Brijesh Damani showcased clinical precision in Colombo

Hyderabad: India began its quest to regain the title with a crushing 3-0 win over lowly Bangladesh in their opening Group ‘C’ fixture of the ACBS Asian Snooker Team Championship in Colombo on Thursday.

The decorated trio of Pankaj Advani, Aditya Mehta and Brijesh Damani, which was part of the Indian team that won the gold two years ago, was on the money from the beginning.

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Multiple-time world champion Advani, playing the first singles, hardly broke a sweat in his 73-31 rout of Muntaser Siddiqui. The 39-year-old’s break of 64 was the feature of India’s first-frame victory.

Although the second frame was bereft of a big break, Damani kept Ziaur Rahman Azad on a tight leash with handy contributions. He scored when he got his chances and resorted to safety when he went out of position.

Advani then teamed up with former pro Aditya Mehta for the doubles in the third frame. The tall Mumbaikar quickly made his presence felt, rifling in an early break of 55 to put the Bangladesh duo of Siddiqui and Rahman under pressure.

With Advani not relenting when he got his chance, India sealed the frame, and the match with it, in double quick time. India were to take on Oman in their second match later in the evening session.

Results (League)
Group C: India bt Bangladesh 3-0
(Pankaj Advani bt Muntaser Siddiqui 73 (64)-31;
Brijesh Damani bt Ziaur Rahman Azad 75-20;
Advani/Aditya Mehta bt Ziaur Rahman/Siddiqui 88 (55)-0)