Dubai: The UAE’s Mohammad Shehab fell at the final hurdle for the second time in his career when he lost to Thailand’s Kritsanut Lertsattayathorn in the final of the ACBS Asian Snooker Championship that concluded in Doha earlier this week.
Shehab had lost 3-6 against another Thai opponent Issara Kachaiwong in 2006 when the competition was held in Colombo. And ten years on, he had a similar heartbreak when he led 2-1 before going down 2-6 against Lertsattayathorn in the Qatari capital.
Shehab started off well winning the opening frame to lead 1-0. But Lertsattayathorn made it 1-1 and then once again the UAE youngster nudged clear 2-1. However, from then on the Thail cueist took over and rattled off the next five frames to be crowned the new champion, joining the likes of Indian legends Pankaj Advani and Yasin Merchant, Thailand’s James Wattana and Marlon Manalo.
This year’s competition drew 55 players from 18 Asian countries including the UAE trio of Shehab along with the experienced Mohammad Al Joker and Mohammad Al Shamsi.
“What Mohammad Shehab has achieved in this competition gives us all a lot of pride. He is the only player from the Arab region (Omar Al Kojah of Syria also ended runner-up to Afghanistan’s Saleh Mohammad in Karachi in 2013) who has made it twice to the final,” Chef de Mission and UAE Billiards and Snooker Association’s Sultan Al Joker told Gulf News on his return from Doha.
Besides the three players and Al Joker, the UAE contingent consisted of team administrator Mohammad Abdullah and assistant coach Obaid Khalifa. “I dedicate this medal to the rulers of the UAE for constantly supporting the dreams of sportspersons in the UAE,” Shehab said.
“It is a bit disappointing to come so far in the competition of this nature and then fail for a second time. But this gives me even more resolve to think confidently that I will be third-time lucky. I am willing to put in additional hard work so that I can bring home the gold medal,” he added.
