SPORTS

Sethi-Shandilya win doubles bronze

December 07, 2006

Geet Sethi and Ashok Shandilya won the bronze medal in the English billiards doubles event at the Asian Games, as India beat Pakistan 3-0 in Doha on Thursday.

Sethi and Shandilya, who narrowly lost to a Myanmar duo in the semi-finals, displayed tremendous form to grab the bronze from the Pakistani pair of Vishan Gir and Sohail Shazad.

The Indian duo reduced the third place tie to virtually a no-contest, winning 101-13, 102-9, 102-37.

Earlier, the Indian bid for a place in the final was thwarted by the spirited Myanmar team while in the snooker pre-quarter-finals, Yasin Merchant went down tamely to Saudi Arabia's Nezar Asseri 4-0.

Sethi and Shandilya fought a grim battle but the Mayanmar duo of Aung San Oo and Kyaw Oo proved better in crunch situations.

Aung San, who was blown apart by Pankaj Advani in the semi-finals of the singles event, thus had his revenge in the doubles. The Myanmar duo won a tense semi-final 84-100, 100-0, 32-100, 100-15, 100-51.

The lead changed twice and in the crucial fifth frame, the winners held their nerve under pressure. They went for small breaks of 30 and 40s and stayed in front to win it and the match.

Geet was gracious in defeat.

''They played well, especially in the final frame. They survived the pressure and won,'' the Indian said ace.

In snooker singles, Saudi Arabia's Asseri blew apart Merchant, winning 77-55, 74-52, 67-47, 52-17.

In Carom 3 Cushion singles, Ranjan Kosaraju lost to Vietnam's Ly The Vinh 10-40.

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