Snooker - Afghan beats Paksitani

[Haris]

Afghan cueist beats Pakistani
rival




KABUL (PAN): An Afghan cueist outplayed his Pakistani rival in the World
Snooker Championship that began in Bangalore city of India on Monday, an
official said.

On the opening day of the event, featuring 87 players from 42 countries
around the globe, Afghanistan's Raees Khan Senzai beat Saleh Mohammad
of Pakistan 4-2.

National Olympic Committee spokesman Mujibur Rahman Rahmani told
Pajhwok Afghan News the six-day championship would conclude on
December 3.

Another Afghan player, Saleh Mohammad, was outclassed 4-0 by his Indian
opponent Hussain, Rahmani said, adding the contestants had been divided
into 16 groups and three would qualify from each for the next stage.

Round-robin matches will take place until Nov. 30, followed by quarterfinals
and semifinals on Dec. 2 and the final on December 3.

India, Thailand, England, Australia, Pakistan and Ireland are among the
participants. The winner will receive 40 percent of the $16,000 prize money
along with a trophy, certificate and medal.



Afghan cueist beats Pakistani rival | Pajhwok Afghan News

[chaikhor]

why 40% of the money?

[KhalsaWarrior]

^^^You dont want to leave anything for the guys who come second and third? lol..

[Haris]

Afghan enters knockout stage
of World Snooker C'ship

KABUL (PAN): Afghan cueist Saleh Mohammad advanced to the knockout stage of the
World Snooker Championships in the Indian city of Bangalore, an official said on
Thursday.

But another Afghan, Raees Khan Senzai, was ousted from the tournament --
featuring 90 players from 43 countries -- after being crushed by his Indian rival Anuj
Uppal.

The contestants have been divided into 12 groups, said Afghanistan Olympic
Committee spokesman, Mujibur Rahman Rahmani.

Saleh Mohammad and Raees Senzai, representing Afghanistan in the mega event, are
among 48 players who have reached the second stage after registering three
victories each in their respective group matches. Each group involves five players.

Second-stage matches were played on Wednesday, when Senzai tasted defeat at
the hands of Uppal, but Mohammad vanquished his Bahrain opponent, Muhammad Esa
Ibrahim. Mohammad will take on his English rival, Martin O'Donnell, in the knockout
stage.

Mohammad defeated his Russian, Indian and Austrian opponents, but was outplayed
by his Iranian rival.

Senzai downed his German, English and Pakistani rivals but was unable to win against
the Australian snooker legend, Steve Mifsud.



http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/12/01...-snooker-cship

[Talal]

Saleh Mohammad is a Pakistani though..played for Pakistan before, i think now he is representing Afghanistan

[Haris]

He may have represented Pakistan but he is an Afghan.

Cue Kabul: Afghanistan
enters frame for Snooker
World Cup revival


Amateur pairing prepare to face Scotland as 19 countries
compete at return of international event

The sense of pride at joining snooker's first World Cup party for 15 years is
palpable as Afghanistan's No 1 player Mohammad Saleh Mohammadi
considers the task facing him in Thailand this week.

World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn's decision to revive the international
event, which starts today, has rewarded genuinely emerging nations with a
place at the top table in a 20-team field, together with those, like
Afghanistan, with no discernible pedigree at the highest level.

A chasm of difference in experience separates amateurs Saleh Mohammad
and partner Mohammad Rais Senzahi from Scotland's quadruple world
champion John Higgins and four-time ranking event winner Stephen
Maguire, early opponents in the Bangkok group stages.

However, taking on icons of the sport is unlikely to faze a man who has
witnessed such a damaging and war-ravaged period in his country's
history, one that compelled him to leave and represent Pakistan for 15
years before grabbing an opportunity to return to Afghanistan in 2008.

On his emotional, and – by dint of the change of flag – controversial
return, Saleh Mohammad was tasked with building a national team of which
the country could be proud, and led several protégés into the prestigious
Asian Games in China last November.

In a high-quality Guangzhou tournament where Hong Kong's Marco Fu beat
China's Ding Junhui in the final, Saleh Mohammad himself made respectable
progress to the quarter-finals before losing to Thailand tour professional
Dechawat Poomjaeng.

The 38-year-old Saleh Mohammad, who lives in Kabul, said: "Of course, I
am really looking forward to it. Snooker is starting to get popular here, and
it's very exciting as it's the first time for Afghanistan we have qualified for
the World Cup.

"It is the biggest tournament of my life. Everyone knows the problems that
there have been here, and it was hard to play snooker here. I felt I had to
go and play in Pakistan. But in 2008 I also knew I had to go back where I
belonged, all my family is here and it makes me very proud to play for
Afghanistan. With the rebuilding in Kabul that has been done I can now
practise in a club with 27 tables.

"I want to give back something to my country and the only way I can do
this is through snooker, as that is what I am good at. It was not an easy
decision to make as I had been all over the world and suddenly I was going
back to my own country without knowing what the reality would be.

"My role is to guide the younger players, and at the same time I need to
play and perform in the competition as well. It is like leading from the front.
It is far more convincing that way rather than just empty words and talk.

"This World Cup is a chance for us to do something, it is only single frames
for singles and doubles, and we can dream of winning the trophy."

Last month's Taliban suicide bombing of a Kabul hotel, resulting in 22
fatalities, showed all too starkly the continuing hazards of life in
Afghanistan's capital for the inhabitants.

But Saleh Mohammad insists he is back for good, and even sees a
responsibility to try to divert people's attention temporarily away from daily
strife. He added: "You try not to think about danger, and get on with your
life. Despite the stories people read, you can be normal most of the time in
Kabul. It is worse in the north.

"I have something to look forward to, it will be a real privilege to play
against the world champion – and there is a lot of honour for our country in
taking part.

"Scotland has produced many great players, like Stephen Hendry and
Higgins, and I have been there many years ago, to play in Stirling.

"But I think we have a good chance against them, it will be one-frame
matches, reverse singles and doubles, any player can win that – and we
also play Hong Kong, Poland and Thailand B for a place in the top two and
the quarter-finals.

"Maybe Scotland will be too confident and think we will be easy to beat.
They could be in for a shock – and I know that people at home will get
very excited if we win some matches."



Cue Kabul: Afghanistan enters frame for Snooker World Cup revival - Others - More Sports - The Independent


Article dated June 11, 2011

[Talal]

The name sounded familiar that's why ..best of luck to saleh !

[graveyardofempires]

Saleh Mohammad is a Pakistani though..played for Pakistan before, i think now he is representing Afghanistan

Pakistani?LOL

anyway he migrated to Pakistan at the time of russian war and later ccivil war.
i remeber seeing him play for pakistan but that still doesnt make him pakistani.

ehsan shafiq played for pekhawer does that make him a pakistani?