New Delhi, Oct 26: Newly coronated World Snooker Champion Pankaj Advani is eager to convert his win into a grand double at the World Billiards Championships in Hyderabad next month, a tough prospect, he said, is worth "going for". "I will surely try my level best to win the world billiards title to go with this (snooker title)," Advani told mediapersons from Jiangmen in China.
"But it will be a tough task considering the field of opponents," said the 19-year-old.
Advani yesterday became only the second Indian to win the World Snooker Championship when he defeated Saleh Mohammad of Pakistan 11-6.
It took India 19 years to bring back the coveted crown after late O B Agarwal had won it in 1984.
The youngest national snooker champion, however, said billiards was his first love in cue sports.
"I enjoy playing snooker and have been doing so for the last ten months. But I think naturally I am a billiards player."
Advani finished third in 2002 National Billiards Championship and will vie for honours in the World Billiards Championship to be held in Hyderabad from November 17.
In all 48 cueists from 18 countries will participate in the event which will be played on a 150 up format.
Advani, who is the only cueist after the legendary Geet Sethi to have won three titles in the same national championship, said he would take a couple of day's break after returning to India and "then start my preparations for the Billiards Championship with the State Ranking Billiards Tournament in Bangalore starting next week".
Bureau Report