Advani keeps medal hope alive in Indoor Asian Games

Hanoi: Reigning world champion Pankaj Advani kept India`s hopes alive in the third Indoor Asian Games after advancing to the quarterfinals of the 15-Red Snooker discipline here on Tuesday. Advani, who yesterday crashed out in the pre-quarterfinals of the 6-Red Snooker discipline, showed immense maturity and depth in his technique and won both his encounters of the day with elan in the 15-Red Snooker. Advani, riding high on some gutsy potting and excellent cushion work, defeated HongKon`s Au Chi Wai (4-2), 35-74, 69-38, 72-00, 69-21, 14-76 and 67-15 in the first match, and later dashed the title hopes of Brunei`s Husain Mahmood Ali Mahmood with a similar margin in the second match. He defeated Mahmood 61-68, 44-63, 73-18, 77-12, 67-29 and 63-09. Another Indian Delhi Boy Manan Chandra, who agonisingly came close to a medal in the 6-Red Snooker discipline yesterday and finished fourth, started his campaign in 15-Red Snooker discipline on a rollicking note and defeated Brunei`s Ahmed Ghulam Hasan Muanedi (4-0), 69-29, 79-15, 64-08 and 70-44. In the men singles of 1-Cushion Carom, India`s Vijay Goel failed to provide any challenge to his opponent Japan`s Tadashi Machida and lost 35-100. Bureau Report