Bangalore: Newly-crowned World Professional
billiards champion Pankaj Advani today said his title would
inspire others to take up the game and win more laurels for
the country.
The 24-year-old Indian created history by becoming only
the second Indian to win the just-concluded World Professional
billiards championship title in Leeds after two-time world
champion Geet Sethi in its 139 years of history.
The ace cueist from Banaglore pulled off a stunning
2030-1253 victory over nine-time world champion Mike Russell
of Qatar in the finals at the Northern Snooker Centre in
Leeds, UK yesterday to lay hands on the coveted trophy.
"I am very happy and extremely excited because it is a
huge milestone that I have achieved," a visibly tired looking
Advani told reporters after returning here in the wee hours
today.
"It is great for the game of billiards and it is great
for all the cueists of the country. I hope my title adds
inspirational value," he said.
Advani said the scheduled of the tournament has totally
drained him but he was enjoying every moment of the limelight
he was getting.
"I am really tired at the moment. I do not know what I am
speaking right now, I do not know where my thoughts are. But
at the moment I am just enjoying every minute of the victory.
It is yet to sink in.”
"The tournament has been really draining for me. I really
had to dig deep to win some of my matches. All I can say is
that I am very happy and I am extremely excited because it is
a huge milestone," he said.
"It's always tough winning any world championship, simply
because you have to beat the best in the business.”
"It's a great feeling and I can now play in peace because
no body would come and tell me that I have not won a
professional billiard title," an ecstatic Advani added.
By virtue of his recent feat, Advani has now won all the
major world titles. He is also the only player to have
achieved a 'grand double' of both the points and time formats
at the World Amateur Billiards Championship in 2005 and 2008
respectively.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, September 08, 2009, 15:30