Junior cueists lose opening games

Sri Lanka's junior snooker players who are participating in the 6th under-21 Asian Snooker Championships in Bangkok lost their opening games on Monday at Alexander Hotel tables.

Lanka's number 1 junior cueist Pavan Sampain lost to Kobbit Palajin of Thailand 4 frames to 1. Palajin is seeded No. 3 in the championship after he was placed second in the world junior snooker tournament last year.

He had two breaks over 50 in the second and fourth frames. Frame scores were 46-7, 71-22, 73-17, 90-0.

Meanwhile the other competitor from Sri Lanka W. S. Perera also went down to Malaysia's El-loon Loh four frames to one.

The scores at the finish were 63-3, 67-13, 60-1, 67-53. Perera managed his best score in the fourth frame when he reached 53 points against his opponent's 67.

India's Aditya Mehta another contender for the title defeated Iran's Sohel Vahed four frames to one. Mehta had two breaks of over 50 in the second, third and fifth 53 and 86 respectively.

Vahed won the second frame with a fine break of 50 points.

Rishab Thakkar the other Indian cueist went down to tournament favourite Lian Wenbo of China four frames to one. Wenbo registered his best break in the first frame scoring 64 points. The scores read in favour of Wenbo 74-2, 70-6, 60-22, 81-15.

The championship which began on Monday is competed by 14 countries. China is rated No. 1 while Thailand and India are rated as the second and third seeds.

(BP)