Deng Haohui Triumphs as Pankaj Advani's Reign Ends

Pankaj Advani's hopes of retaining his title at the Asian Snooker Championships were dashed by a 1-4 defeat to China's Deng Haohui. Despite a strong start, Advani succumbed to Haohui's aggressive play. Meanwhile, Indian women made strides, with three reaching the last eight in their category.

Pankaj Advani's quest to retain his championship title came to a halt with a 1-4 defeat against China's Deng Haohui in the Asian Snooker Championships' final match on Wednesday. The three-time champion struggled against Haohui's aggressive strategy, impacting Advani's trademark safety play and resulting in a subdued performance.

Advani initially took the lead with a brilliant 96 break in the opening frame of the best-of-seven contest, only for Haohui to bounce back with a solid 68 in the second frame. Despite Advani's efforts to regain momentum, a missed shot proved costly as Haohui quickly closed out the frame and continued to dominate.

In other matches, three Indian women advanced to the quarterfinals, showcasing India's talent in the women's snooker category. The U-21 men's category saw Aarav Sancheti lead Group 'B' to qualify for the knockout pre-quarterfinals, despite others failing to progress.

(With inputs from agencies.)