Pankaj Advani once again rules India's year in cue sports

Agencies
December 19, 2017

New Delhi, Dec 19: Rarely does a sport become synonymous with an individual but Pankaj Advani has been just that to cue sports in India for a long time and this year was no different as he claimed a couple of more world titles to add to his legendary status.

The 32-year-old has been juggling billiards and snooker quite efficiently for over a decade now. His performance, in fact, has come to define Indian cue sports and he lived up to expectations in 2017 as well, taking his world title count to 18.

In July, Advani led India A to a gold in the finals of the Asian Team Snooker Championship held in Kyrgyzstan. The winning team comprising Advani, Laxman Rawat, and Malkeet Singh demolished Pakistan 3-0 in an exciting final.

Asked how it felt to outclass arch-rivals Pakistan, Advani brushed aside India's fiercest foe as any other opponent and focused on his first ever team trophy.

"Every opponent is equal for us but the pressure and expectations of the people are a lot higher against Pakistan. If we are winning a tournament, we would rather go out and beat the best to claim victory," Advani told PTI.

"It was extremely satisfying to win that event as it was the first time I was part of a team that lifted the championship trophy," he said.

Adding to his exploits globally, Advani also became the only Indian male cueist to hold the national billiards and snooker titles.

However, 2017 also saw other Indian players make a mark, with 40-year-old Vidya Pillai's silver medal at the World Women's Snooker Championship in Singapore being a high point.

She lost the match that went down to the wire to former World Champion Ng On Yee of Hong Kong.

MPs Kamal Chawla also made the nation proud by reaching his maiden finals in the World 6 Reds Snooker championship. Although he lost to defending champion Darren Morgan of Wales 6-4, Chawla gave a gritty performance to claim the silver medal.

But none came close to outshining Advani.

"I wish I could tell you how difficult it is to win in the two formats (billiards and snooker). Everyone specialises in only one - either billiards or snooker and even then it is hard to win. It is very challenging for me and it is such challenges that I look forward to in my career," the 32-year- old said.

In choc-a-bloc November, the focus shifted to the IBSF World Billiards and Snooker Championships in Doha and once again India's hopes were pinned on the Khel Ratna awardee.

Thriving under pressure, Advani added two more world titles to his collection in the span of just two weeks.

Advani clinched his 17th world title after he thrashed arch-rival Mike Russell of England in the IBSF World Billiards Championship.

In a masterclass, the Indian ace clinically constructed lethal breaks to completely dismantle his longstanding rival to defend the 150-up format title he had won in Bengaluru last year.

However, the 17-time world champion settled for bronze in the long-up format of the IBSF World Billiards Championship after losing to Russell, who he had defeated in the point format of the game earlier, in the semifinals.

After a memorable outing in the World Billiards with a gold and bronze, Advani had only a day to switch from the 3-ball game to snooker. But he continued his good run by dishing out another superb performance to outclass Iran's Amir Sarkhosh in the final for yet another title.

His attacking game, coupled with phenomenally tight safety play, helped Advani secure his 18th World Championship title.

"I took a break in September and in October I started my preparations. I did my homework, I was very hungry for victory and it showed in the results," Advani said.

Indian cue sports have plenty to look forward to next year with youngsters like Rawat and Singh making a mark on the international stage and Chawla gaining his footing.

As for Advani, he continues to be as eager and as hungry for titles as he has always been.

"I have not put a number on how many world titles I want to win. Putting a number limits oneself. I want to be relentless, someone who makes their own style as they go," Advani said.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
May 26,2020

Mumbai, May 26: Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar said that if he was playing currently he and Virat Kohli would have been the best of friends off the field, but real enemies whenever they stepped on the field.

Akhtar also said that he would have liked to challenge Kohli to drive the ball.

"Virat Kohli and I would have been the best of friends as both of us are Punjabi, but on the field, we would have been the best of the enemies. I would have loved to get inside the head of Kohli. I would have told him that you cannot play a cut or pull shot against me," Akhtar told Sanjay Manjrekar in a videocast hosted by ESPNCricinfo.

"I would have gone wide of the crease and bowled a ball that would go away from him, I would have forced him to drive the ball as it is his favourite shot. So I would keep forcing him to play the drive shot at my pace," he added.

Akhtar also said that he wishes that Kohli could have played against some of the top bowlers in the game.

The Rawalpindi Express said that Kohli would have enjoyed the challenge of facing bowlers like Wasim Akram, Shane Warne, and Waqar Younis.

"I would also keep talking to him, because if I get him to lose his focus then that would have been great. The great thing about Kohli is that he gets more focused when he is challenged. But I believe Virat Kohli would have still scored the same amount of runs if I was playing," Akhtar said.

"I really wish that he had played against Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shane Warne, and then Virat would have also enjoyed the challenge," he added.

Akhtar played 224 matches for Pakistan in international cricket and took 444 wickets across all formats.

Over the years, comparisons between Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar have been growing and many have picked the current Indian skipper to break the records set by Tendulkar.

Tendulkar called time on his career after registering 100 international centuries, while Kohli has 70 centuries across all formats.

Currently, Kohli is ranked at the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings while he is in second place in the Tests rankings.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
January 8,2020

Indore, Jan 8: Skipper Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 30 as India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second Twenty20 international in Indore on Tuesday.

The hosts rode a 71-run opening stand between KL Rahul, who hit 45, and Shikhar Dhawan, who made 32, to chase down their target of 143 in 17.3 overs and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after the first match was rained off.

Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga took the wickets of the Indian openers but Shreyas Iyer, who scored 34 before falling to paceman Lahiru Kumara, and Kohli, who hit the winning six, got the team home.

The third match is on Friday in Pune.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
March 27,2020

New Delhi, Mar 27: India skipper Virat Kohli on Friday made a heartfelt appeal to the citizens of the country, asking them to follow social distancing as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus pandemic.
He also went on to say that over the past few days, he has seen some people still taking to the streets, and added that if people still continue to venture out, then they are not being honest with the country.
Kohli released a small video clip on Twitter, making the public appeal and captioned the post as: "Please wake up to the reality and seriousness of the situation and take responsibility. The nation needs our support and honesty"
"Today, I am talking to you as a citizen of the country. Whatever I have seen over the past few days, I have seen people not following the lockdown, it has made me feel that some people are taking the battle against COVID-19 very lightly. I request you all to please follow social distancing, whatever the government is asking you to do, please follow it," Kohli said in the video released on Twitter.
"Think about what can happen to your family members because of your negligence. Our medical experts are fighting this battle day in and day out. If you are still going out to the streets, then I don't think you are being honest to your country," he added.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to impose a 21-day lockdown in the country as a precautionary measure against coronavirus.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases have risen to 724 in India (including 640 active cases, 66 cured or discharged people) and 17 deaths.
The World Health Organisation had termed the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic on March 11. 

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.