India enters knockout stage of Asian Team Snooker Championship after defeating Qatar

MUMBAI: Spearheaded by recently crowned continental 6-red champion Pankaj Advani, India defeated Qatar 3-0 to enter the knockout stage of the Asian Team Snooker Championship being held in Abu Dhabi.

Advani gave India a 1-0 lead when he outclassed Qatar's Ahmed Sai 70-16, which was then increased to 2-0 by Manan Chandra, who defeated Mohsin Bukshaisha 70-45, according to information available here.

In the deciding doubles contest, Advani and Chandra combined forces to get the better of Qatari rivals Saif and Ali Alobaidly 88-11.

Earlier, in the four-team Group B, India was equally impressive in dispatching Sri Lanka by a similar margin, winning the two singles matches 61-12 and 79-1 before sewing up the tie with a facile 86-1 win in the doubles match.

Thailand, India's main rival in the group, also won against Qatar (3-2) and Lanka (3-0).