Gulati, Vatnani reach finals of Indian Open snooker qualifiers

 

New Delhi, Aug 25: Delhi’s Sundeep Gulati produced a clinical display of potting mixed with excellent safety play to book his berth in the finals of the Delhi Qualifying Leg 1 for the Indian Open 2013 World Professional Ranking Snooker tournament here today.

Gulati reigned supreme on the green baize as he put an end to the challenge of Chandigarh’s Rajat Khaneja 4-2 at the Megapool Snooker Academy.

Gulati will meet Haryana’s Divya Sharma in the first of the four qualifying finals tomorrow. Sharma defeated Gujarat’s Dhvaj Hariya by a comfortable margin of 4-1.

The 2009 IBSF World Championship pre-quarterfinalist Lucky Vatnani too lived up to his billing and booked his place in the second final of the Qualifiers with a clinical display against Mizoram’s Lalrina Renthlei.

Vatnani produced a slick, high-calibre potting display in the afternoon session to beat Renthlei 4-2. He will meet Punjab’s Aayush Kumar, who defeated a gritty Andhra Pradesh cueist Himanshu Jain 4-2.

The third final of the Qualifiers will see Railways Faisal Khan taking on Delhi’s Varun Madan.

Junior snooker champion Khan blanked Delhi’s Anuj Uppal 4-0 (54-41, 91-1, 58-50, 77-22) while Madan had a tough time in staving off the stiff challenge from Railways’ Pushpendra Singh before defeating him 4-3.

A total of 96 players draw have been made by the organisers from almost every part of the country for the knock-out best-of-seven-frames qualifiers. (PTI)