The Hindu : Sport / Billiards & Snooker : `Specialise in one event'

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Sunday, Jan 07, 2007
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Sport - Billiards & Snooker

`Specialise in one event'

Principal Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) has taken a decision in principle to let the players specialise in any one discipline — billiards or snooker. The final nod for this move is expected to take effect during the forthcoming Nationals in Bangalore.

Capt. P.V.K. Mohan, President, BSFI, told The Hindu that there were some doubts among a section of the players earlier, but after he took over, he was able to convince them on the importance of specialisation.

"The players themselves were witness to the World No.2, Ding Junhai, winning three golds at the Doha Asian Games by playing only in snooker," he said. "This is being done keeping the long-term interests of the players in mind for they can focus more on one particular event," he added.

In another significant move, the BSFI has decided to hire foreign coaches and also identify a pool of players who may need their services during the Bangalore Nationals.

"The objective is to win as many medals as possible at the highest level. Though cue sports is ruled out even for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, a lot of initiatives are being taken up to promote the sport with the ultimate objective of seeing it's inclusion in the Commonwealth Games in the future," Mr. Mohan said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Olympic Association has granted affiliation to the BSFI. "That is a big boost to the sport and coincides with the feats of Pankaj Advani. Everything is falling in place at the right time," Mr. Mohan said.

He is also the first Indian to be elected on the Board of Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports, which is entrusted with the task of promoting sport across Asia.

"Since it is a huge task, we have decided to appoint former World champion Manoj Kothari as the technical advisor to monitor day to day developments," he said.

On the World snooker championship, Mr. Mohan said if Thailand, which is the original choice, backs out for lack of sponsorship, then India will host it. "And even if this doesn't come through, Hyderabad will host the World snooker team event later this year,'' he said.

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