Hani Al Howri takes pool title at West Asian Championships

The Emirati wins pool title, but disappointment in the snooker team event.

Hani Al Howri with his trophy for winning the 8-ball pool singles at the West Asian Championships.

Hani Al Howri ensured that the UAE finished off the snooker West Asian Championships in winning fashion in Fujairah.

The Emirati prevailed 9-4 over Ahmad Al Jalaad of Jordan in the final of the 8-ball pool singles competition.

It was his first title in six years and he said: "My first match had been against the top Kuwaiti player and beating him 7-2 has been the key to my success in this tournament. It was a big win for me and I felt very confident.

"Later on, their were only tough matches for me but I kept my cool through them and was rewarded with victories. The 7-6 triumph over the Iranian professional Takhti Zarekhani in the quarter-finals came as a further boost.

"Then when I beat Salah Al Rimawi, who is the top-ranked pool player in UAE at the moment, in the semi-final, I knew I was in with a realistic chance of winning the gold medal and I am happy that I did.

"I am grateful to my teammates for being on my side throughout those games in the tournament."

However, there was disappointment for Mohammed Shehab and Mohammed Al Joakar, who made up the UAE's A team in the snooker team event, as they were beaten in the semi-finals of the competition.

The UAE campaign's at the tournament, which saw 60 players from 13 countries compete at the Concorde Fujairah Hotel, ended with a respectable haul of one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.

Next year's competition will be staged in Lebanon.