Muhammad Asif’s quest for a gold medal at the World Games came to an end on Wednesday as he was defeated 2-0 by China’s Zhao Guodong in the snooker semi-finals.
Despite a valiant effort, the 36-year-old from Pakistan was unable to overcome Zhao, ranked 14th in the world, who clinched a straightforward win.
Asif, who had been in excellent form throughout the competition, will now shift his focus to the bronze medal match. Although this semi-final defeat marked the end of his hopes for a final appearance, Asif’s performance up until this point had been nothing short of impressive.
Earlier in the week, Asif had shown his skill and resilience in the quarter-finals, where he comfortably dispatched Britain’s Zac Cosker. Asif dominated both frames, securing a 79-15 win in the first and following it up with an 89-31 victory in the second, thanks to a powerful break of 51 points.
The World Games, taking place in Chengdu, China, have brought together over 4,000 athletes from across the globe, competing in 34 disciplines.
Snooker, which has been part of the Games since 2001, continues to provide a platform for top cueists to showcase their talent, with 12 players vying for the coveted gold medal this year.
Asif, a seasoned campaigner and former IBSF World champion, had earned his place at the World Games after a stellar performance in the IBSF World Men’s Snooker Championship last year in Doha.
His success continued with a victory in the IBSF World Masters Snooker Championship in Bahrain last month, where he triumphed 4-3 over India’s Brijesh Damani to secure his sixth world title.
Asif will now look to finish strong in the bronze medal match, aiming to add to Pakistan’s medal history in the sport.
