India thump Pakistan to enter final of Asian Snooker team championship

Mumbai: Ace cueists Pankaj Advani and Aditya Mehta combined forces to power India into the final of the Asian Snooker team championship in Abu Dhabi after thrashing arch-foes Pakistan 3-0 today.

India will take on Iran in the final.

Mehta, India's lone professional snooker player, gave the country a grand start when he drubbed Mohammed Asif 73-16 in the opening game of the semifinal, according to information provided by the team's coach Derek Sippy.

Thereafter Advani, recently crowned the continent's 6-Red champion, showed impressive touch to outclass Asjad Iqbal 83-25 to give India a 2-0 lead.

Advani and Mehta then joined hands to trounce Asif and Asjad 92-8 to give India a commanding 3-0 victory.

Meanwhile, Iran defeated Malaysia by a similar 3-0 margin in the other semifinal.

Earlier, in the quarterfinals, India had defeated hosts United Arab Emirates 3-0.

Aditya Mehta, who won the bronze in the 6-Red event, put India 1-0 in front with a comprehensive 88-15 victory over Mohammed Shehab before Advani increased the lead by vanquishing Mohammed Al Joker 67-19. The two then paired up to outsmart their UAE rivals 52-21 in the doubles clash to complete the facile win.