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Yasin-Alok crash out of snooker doubles

Harpal Singh Bedi in Bangkok

A lacklustre display by Alok Kumar shattered India's hopes for a medal in snooker as he and Yasin Merchant went down to hosts Thailand 3-5 in the quarterfinals of the doubles event in the 13^th Asian Games today.

Alok Kumar failed to provide the necessary support to team-mate Yasin Merchant and the pair lost to the top-seeded Thai duo P Wattana and T Chachart 42-83, 34-54, 36-63, 72-8, 57-49, 21-69, 59-37, 35-70.

Former world champions Wattana and Chachart gave an indifferent display, but were helped by an off-colour Alok Kumar.

It was left to former Asian champion Merchant to shoulder the responsibility, but the veteran Bombay cueist finally gave in though he was the best of the four players at the table.

Wattana and Chachart began with a flourish and won the first frame without much difficulty (83-42).

In the second, the Indian duo, especially Merchant, tried to fight it out before the Thais clinched it (54-34).

Wattana and Chachart then raced to a 3-0 lead when they claimed the third frame 63-36 and the Indians looked to be heading for a drubbing.

But spearheaded by Merchant, the Indians fought back to win the next two frames.

Merchant had a break of 64 in the fourth frame which they won 72-8 and it was a close fifth frame where Alok had three attempts to pot the pink and he managed to do it on the last to win 57-49.

In the sixth frame, Alok Kumar missed an easy black, giving Wattana a chance, and the veteran Thai, with a break of 69, claimed the frame (69-21) to further consolidate the lead (4-2).

In the seventh frame, the Indians led 29-9 before the Thais drew parity 34-34. Merchant made it 37-35 and then potted a white to make it 39-37.

Alok tried the yellow at the top pocket and missed. But the lad from Punjab got another chance and he managed to pot yellow to take the score to 44-37, only to miss an easy brown.

At that stage, India needed two balls -- brown and blue -- while the Thais required three. Alok Kumar managed to pot brown and blue to seal the frame in India's favour (59-37).

In the eighth frame, the Indians had a chance. With a forty-point difference and only one red on the table, Alok Kumar gave a snooker. Wattana hit the pink, letting India off the hook, but Merchant potted only red and black and with a difference of 26 points and 27 on the table, Chachart potted the yellow, green, and brown to win the frame 70-35 and give Thailand a place in the semis.

"We played well, but the opposition was very tough. Both of them (Chachart and Wattana) are world-ranked players and former champions," Merchant said after the match.

The Indians now hope for a better showing in the team event.

UNI