Defending Champion Manan Chandra, Pankaj enter pre-quarters

Bangalore, Jan 30 (UNI) Former Asian Champion Ashok Shandilya made a shocking exit after being beaten by veteran Karnataka cueist B V S Murthy 4-1 in the 73rd Senior National Snooker Championship, played at the KSBA hall here today.

The awful form of the Railway star, who was ousted early in the Billiards championship as well last week, continued as he conceded the first two frames rather tamely. This proved to be his downfall as Murthy, who had won the national crown way back in 1996, quelled a late fight back from Shandilya to win at 52-16, 54-17, 04-84, 63-55, 67-53 and advance into the pre-quarterfinals.

Defending Champion Manan Chandra and World Champion Pankaj Advani (both PSPB) won their respective matches to enter the pre-quarters.

Proving his supremacy in the colour ball game, Manan trounced Karan Anand of Maharashtra 4-0, while 21-year-old Bangalore lad Pankaj did not have to sweat it out to show the doors to Girish of Tamil Nadu 4-0.

In the women's section, world champion Chitra Magimairaj won both her league matches in style to storm into the last 16 stage of the 15th Women's National Snooker Championship.

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