The Hindu : Sport / Billiards & Snooker : Rousing reception for Advani

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Wednesday, Mar 23, 2005

Sport

Sport - Billiards & Snooker

Rousing reception for Advani

By Our Sports Reporter

BANGALORE, MARCH 22. Pankaj Advani, who pocketed a `double' at the Malta World billiards championship, was given a rousing welcome at the Bangalore Airport here on Tuesday. A beaming Ms. Kajal Advani, his mother, and a tear-shedding Arvind Savur were amongst the first to hug and pat the youngster, who returned with the world title in both forms of billiards - the point and the time formats.

The Karnataka State Billiards Association (KSBA) officials along with the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) had arranged a motorcade reception which passed through the arterial roads, but sadly unnoticed, all the way to `Yavanika' wherein the Sports Minister Jabbar Khan Honnali and Commissioner K.C. Ramamurthy, welcomed and honoured the 19-year old champion.

Speaking to the reporters, Pankaj said: "It's great feeling to win two World titles in a matter of five days. The match practice that we (Indians) got after the nationals at Mumbai, wherein both formats were played proved of immense help. The Asian title at Pune also gave me the confidence. After winning the points (150 up) format there was less pressure on me going into the time format, wherein the likes of Geet Sethi and Devendra Joshi are more proficient. But then everything fell in place."

Asked on the fantastic turnaround in the match against former champion Robbie Foldvari, wherein Pankaj trailed 0-4 before pulling off a sensational 5-4 win, he said, "Yes the sixth frame was very crucial and when I pulled it off to reduce the deficit to 2-4, Foldvari cracked. That helped me to pull off the remaining three frames."

What next and quick came the reply: `Exams.'

The Jain College faculty and its sports loving chairman Mr. Chenraj Jain, have arranged a grand felicitation on March 26 and promised all help for Pankaj to cover his vast portions and a re-exam for him from April 24.

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