Matunga Gymkhana 6-Red Open Handicap Snooker Tournament.
Badami upsets Sanchis
Hasan Badami of Islam Gymkhana upset 2012 national women’s champion Arantxa Sanchis of Pune in a 5-4 thriller to advance to the semi-finals, in the Matunga Gymkhana 6-Red Snooker Tournament on Friday.
Trailing 1-3 and 2-4, Badami overcame an indifferent start to initiate a late challenge with impressive potting to win three frames in a row for an exciting 22-45, 13-41, 51-29, 4-45, 48-39, 32-41, 35-14, 36-18, 49-8 win.
Double world champion Sanchis dominated the opening half of the best-of-nine frames contest to enjoy a comfortable cushion until she dropped the fifth frame after missing the black. Sanchis, winner of 10 national titles, then missed the brown in the crucial seventh frame that changed her fortunes.
National and state junior snooker champion Ishpreet Singh Chadha of Khar Gymkhana prevailed over IBSF World Billiards quarter-finalist Dhvaj Haria of Gujarat 5-3 after trailing 0-2 and 2-3 to set up a last four clash with Hitesh Kotwani of PJ Hindu Gymkhana. Badami will next play Nitesh Madan of Railways who crushed giant-killer Vishal Vaya 5-0.
Results: Elite: Quarter-finals: Ishpreet Singh Chadha bt Dhvaj Haria 15-45, 26-29, 31-21, 35-27, 6-35, 56-45, 46-12, 64-1; Nitesh Madan bt Vishal Vaya 56-16, 57-8, 44-24, 57-23, 45-42; Hasan Badami bt Arantxa Sanchis 22-45, 13-41, 51-29, 4-45, 48-39, 32-41, 35-14, 36-18, 49-8; Hitesh Kotwani bt Sumit Sardulkar 57-27, 23-50, 36-30, 44-33, 65-28, 29-48, 58-16.