Shandilya shocks Sethi as Indian cueists go 1-2

Bangkok, Dec 19: Ashok Shandilya jolted world champion Geet Sethi five frames to four to lift the Asian Games billiards singles title and...

Bangkok, Dec 19: Ashok Shandilya jolted world champion Geet Sethi five frames to four to lift the Asian Games billiards singles title and complete a bullion double here today.

Ranked six positions below Sethi in the circuit, Shandilya played like a champion to snatch the opportunity of the Asian Games gold double from his countrymate’s hands.

On Thursday, Sethi and Shandilya partnered to defeat the Thai pair of C Praprut and K Mongkhen for the doubles gold.

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Today, Shandilya rattled up an unfinished century break in the decider to clinch the issue.

“I did not want to let go a chance as Geet would have grabbed it easily and won,” Shandilya said after the match. Shandilya won 62-150, 152-22, 150-9, 83-150, 150-91, 95-151, 150-77, 101-151, 151-23 in a four-hour match.

Shandilya, who had played another tough match in the morning beating local hero C Praprut 4-1, was cool and confident. Praput beat Grandea 4-1 to claim the bronze medal.

Before leaving the hall in the morning, he said it does notmatter who wins. “After all, India will get the gold and silver,” he said.

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In the semis, Sethi easily outsmarted Grandea (Philippines) 150-33, 150-0, 151-83, 152-119, Shandilya defeated local hero Praput 151-108, 151-134, 78-151, 150-70, 151-97 in the semi-finals.

Even before Shandilya and Praprut completed their third frame, Sethi ended his rout of the Filipino, starting with a 66 break in the first frame and followed it up with a 150 and 151 in the second and third frames.

However, in the third, Grandea started with a 83, but that did not endanger Sethi’s prospects. The fourth saw the Filipino trying to come up with some good short breaks of 34 and 36. But through his slow and steady potting, Sethi won the frame and the match.

Praprut had been assured of a house and a car besides one million bhats if he earned the gold.

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Praprut came up with a 101 break in the first frame but that did not unnerve Shandilya who missed a three figure break by two points and took the frame at 151-108.

Shandilya,in the second frame, led 134-131. Praprut missed a far red from the top of the table and Shandilya, encashing on it, won 151-134 to take a 2-0 lead.

The Thai, however, bounced back into the game in the third frame and with a break of 127, he won it to reduce the margin by one frame.

However, the next two frames saw Shandilya at his best as he capitalised on the mistakes of the Thai cueist to win them and make his entry into the final.