India assured of a medal as Advani, Rawat win

India's leading snooker cueists -- Pankaj Advani and Laxman Rawat -- on Sunday assured India of a medal at the IBSF Snooker World Cup here after blanking Iran 3-0. After last year's gold medal finish, India are en-route to defending their title. India defeated Iran in the quarterfinal tie 3-0 and will next take on the winner of the match between Hong Kong and Ireland in the semifinal. Rawat opened the proceedings with a 80-50 win in the first frame.

Next up, Advani, who has had a productive fortnight in Doha winning gold and silver in the two previous Asian Snooker Championships -- individual and team -- won the second frame, scoring a 52 break. In the doubles, Pankaj and Rawat were close to being stretched to the fourth frame before the former potted a long blue and confirmed the pink to end the tie there.