Guangzhou: National billiards champion Alok Kumar on Sunday became the first Indian to win an Asian Games medal in pool events by clinching bronze in the men's 8-ball category despite losing in the semifinals here.
The 42-year-old cueist bagged a bronze though he lost 5-7 to Kuo Po Cheng of Chinese Taipei in last-four stage. Under rules of the event, both the losing semifinalists are awarded a bronze each instead of playing a third-place play-off.
Alok, who had shocked Pankaj Advani in the finals of the Senior Nationals at Indore this September, defeated Lee Poh Soon of Malaysia 7-5 in the pre-quarters and Ricky Yang of Indonesia 7-4 in the last eight stage.
The medal would be awarded to Kumar after the final of the event on Monday.
"Alok has become the first Indian to win an Asian Games medal in pool events. He has made the country proud. Filipiano coach Jorge C Dacer helped our cueist to end India's medal drought in the Pool event," said Team manager Ravi Tandon.
Another Indian Sumit Talwar lost to Yang's compatriot Irsal Nasution 7-4 in the round of eight after ousting Ko Pin Yi of 7-6 in the earlier round.
India's challenge in the women's 6-red team snooker event also ended at the quarterfinal stage when they lost 1-3 to Chinese Taipei.
Anuja Chandra lost both her singles matches before losing the doubles pairing Chitra Magimairajan. Vidya Pillai won her singles match.
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