Guangdong, China, June 17: India scored a hard-fought 3-1 win over Mongolia to book their place in the quarter-finals of the World Team Snooker Championship here on Wednesday.
The nervy victory helped the former champions set up a last-eight meeting with China ‘B’, whom they had lost to narrowly in the league stage on the opening day. The hosts overcame Singapore 3-1 in their pre-quarter-final encounter.
Earlier in the day, India were too good for the lowly Turkey, scoring a lopsided 3-0 win in their final Group ‘B’ league match to advance to the knockouts.
Advani, Mehta Guide India Past Mongolia
After a gruelling battle with Nasanbuyan Orgil, Aditya Mehta secured the win to put India ahead in the last-16 clash against Mongolia. Pankaj Advani made a break of 51 en route to a 70-6 win over Sergelen Batdelger.
Advani and Ketan Chawla, playing his first match of the tournament, then went down 54-70 in the doubles to give Mongolia a look-in. But multiple-time world champion Advani returned to score a facile 67-37 win over Orgil to seal the tie.
Turkey Outclassed in Group Match
In the morning, Advani kickstarted the rout against Turkey, registering a comfortable 60-39 win over Ismail Turker. Aditya Mehta, a former World Games gold medallist, outclassed Enes Bakirci 95-17 to give India a 2-0 lead.
The country’s top two players combined to score a 90-13 win over the duo of Turker and Bakirci to clinch the doubles match and the rubber 3-0. Advani compiled a break of 46 in the final match.
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Results
Pre-quarter-finals: India bt Mongolia 3-1 (Aditya Mehta bt Nasanbuyan Orgil 65-46, Pankaj Advani bt Sergelen Batdelger 70 (51)-6, Advani/Ketan Chawla lost to Orgil/Batdelger 54-70, Advani bt Orgil 67-37).
League (Group ‘B’): India bt Turkey 3-0 (Pankaj Advani bt Ismail Turker 60-39; Aditya Mehta bt Enes Bakirci 95-17; Advani/Mehta bt Turker/Bakirci 90-13).
