SPORTS

Advani beats Shandilya for gold

December 05, 2006

Pankaj Advani won the all-India men's billiards final at the Asian Games to grab the country's second gold medal, while compatriot Ashok Shandilya took the silver on Tuesday.

After a slow start, Khel Ratna Advani won 76-101, 101-40, 100-0, 100-32.

Earlier, Shandilya and Advani dazzled on the green baize to record fluent victories over Peter Gilchrist and San Oo Aung respectively and set up a title clash in English Billiards, thus assuring India of the gold and silver medal in the cuesports event.

In men's snooker, the Indian team of Aditya Mehta, Yasin Merchant and Rupesh Shah got a walk over from Singapore and moved into the pre-quarter-finals.

In English Billiards, played on the points format, Shandilya blanked former World champion Gilchrist, who is representing Singapore at  the Games.

Gilchrist, originally from England, has settled down in Singapore and was considered a potential threat to the Indian. But he was totally off-colour today and Shandilya had no difficulty in beating him in straight frames.

The 38-year-old Gilchrist put up a spirited fight in the first frame but after losing that 80-100, he virtually threw in the towel.

Shandilya was in his element as he cued perfectly and won the next two frames 101-33, 100-22 to reduce the semi-final to a virtual no contest.

On the other hand, Pankaj Advani lost the opening frame to Mayanmar's Aung but then rallied superbly to send his rival packing.

The Indian champion lost the first frame narrowly 95-100, but then displayed a fluent game on the green baize in the next three frames to leave Aung bewildered.

The Bangalore-based cueist won the next three frames with utmost ease 100-19, 100-20, 100-3 to ensure that title clash will be an all-India affair.

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