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Afghanistan's historic win

Afghanistan's historic win

07/15/2011 12:21:36 AM

Afghanistan recorded their first victory in Snooker World Cup history with a shock 4-1 defeat of Poland on Thursday.

Fifteen-year-old Polish prodigy Kacper Filipiak won the opening singles match over Sahid Aftab, but the unlikely Afghanis responded to take the next four encounters, including the doubles.

Muhammad Sajjab, who defeated Filipiak and Krysztof Wrobel in an impressive performance, said the victory proved Afghanistan had a bright future in the sport.

"I played very well and didn't expect to win today. The competition is very tough and at a very high level - all the top professionals are here," Sajjab said.

"For Afghanistan I was so proud to represent my country and I'm so happy for my country, who have always supported us in snooker."

"In Afghanistan snooker is a new game but we have a lot of talent. We have a lot of young players playing from 10 in the morning to eight in the evening with more than 100 clubs in Kabul."

The result is moot in terms of the knockout stages, with Afghanistan destined to be eliminated from Group D following three earlier losses.

Also in Group D, Scotland moved within a frame of the quarter-finals with a 3-2 defeat of Thailand's second team.

John Higgins and Stephen Maguire rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win their remaining singles matches and stay unbeaten after three games.

Northern Ireland also made it three from three in Group C with a 3-2 defeat of Belgium, one that ensured Gerard Greene and Mark Allen were the first to secure their place in the last eight.

"We got what we needed and that was what we set out at the start of the competition to do - to qualify for the quarter-finals," Allen said.

"We still have to play England and that's going to be another tough match but we have to beat them and win the group to avoid Scotland."

England wrapped up their spot in the quarter-finals with a 4-1 defeat of India in Group C's other match.

Group A favourites Wales are yet to be beaten following a streaky 3-2 win over Pakistan.

Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens raced to a 3-0 lead to seal up the tie but then lost successive frames to delay their qualification to the last eight until Friday.

Republic of Ireland edged Germany 3-2 in the decisive frame to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.

Finally, Malta recorded a 5-0 whitewash of United Arab Emirates to all but seal up their trip to the last eight, and China edged Australia 3-2 in a game that could prove crucial in deciding the second team to advance from Group B.

 

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