DUBAI: The Pakistan duo of Khurram Agha and Mohammad Sajjad Rana bowed out from the quarter-final stage of the 24th Asian Snooker Championship after a keen tussle here on Thursday evening.

Last year’s Asian number three Khurram, who toppled favorite Muhammad Shehab, fought gallantly before going down against former Asian champion Jin Long of China 5-3 at the Dubai Police Club Hall here.

Debutant Mohammad Sajjad showing fighting qualities against Aditya Mehta of India, missed a crucial green in the eighth frame before making his exit after a 3-5 defeat.

Khurram put up a brave fight after conceding 0-3 lead to Jin Long, Who made break of 74 in the second frame. The ex-Pakistan number one Khurram took frame four with a brilliant break of 62 which saw him reducing the deficit.

Jin Long posted a break of 74 in the sixth frame to consolidate his position. Khurram bounced back in the match added with a neatly carved out clearance of 79 to make it 3-4.

However, the Chinese cueist stopped Khurram’s threat by picking the 8th frame 76-27 to qualify for the pre-final.

Like Khurram, Sajjad staged a magnificent recovery from 1-3 down to level it 3-3. But Indian youngster Aditya kept his nerves to win the intriguing next frame to enter the semifinal.

Sajjad was heading to grab the exciting eighth frame after a break of 19 but he failed to pot a green ball in the top pocket to get the Indian opponent off the hook. Aditya potted the green, brown, blue, pink and black balls to emerge winner.