Pankaj bags his 8th Asian Billiards title
In the all Indian final of the 19th Asian 100 UP Billiards Championship 2022 organised and conducted by Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) that concluded at Doha, Qatar, Pankaj Advani of PSPB won Dhruv Sitwala of PSPB 6-2. This is Pankaj’s 24th International title and the 9th Asian title.
Dhruv played yellow and Pankaj White. Pankaj went out of position when he was at 81 and played a screw back to get a cannon from white to red for recovery. White got potted and Pankaj finished the frame with red leading 1-0. Pankaj followed with a smooth century break to put the lead to 2-0. Third frame started off with a strong defence. and Dhruv went out off position at 11. Pankaj tried a cannon and white got potted at 32. Dhruv had all the 3 balls almost on a straight line close to the cushion with the white hanging near the left pocket of the bottom cushion. He tried a complex cannon and left a position. Pankaj took the lead to 84-14. Dhruv went out of position at 29 and Pankaj resorted to white pot with rest at 87 and positioned it well for a red in-off the spot to put the lead at 3-0.
Dhruv’s drag pot in response to Pankaj’s opening defense left the red in an in-off position for Pankaj in the bottom left pocket and Pankaj capitalised on it. However at 15, Pankaj missed a red pot leaving a plum position for Dhruv. Dhruv missed cannon with the red on a one cushion drop cannon giving Pankaj position at 15-18. Pankaj went out of position at 44-18. Dhruv made an 82 break to put the frame score at 1-3.
Dhruv missed a red in-off in the centre pot at 26. Pankaj executed a pot cum red in-off followed by one cushion drop cannon and went out of position soon at 10. Dhruv patiently moved his score to 90. With the option to go for a red pot with the cue ball close to the cushion, Dhruv attempted a red in-off to the centre pot and missed because of a thick contact. Pankaj punished Dhruv commencing his break with a drop cannon to put the scoreboard at 4-1 in his favor.
Dhruv potting red and wanting to position for red spot in-off from the top pocket found his cue ball behind the jaw with both red and white not visible directly. While trying to play off the bottom cushion, made a foul with Pankaj getting spot. Pankaj missed a red pot at 69 in the 6th frame having started off well when Dhruv. Dhruv again lost position and Pankaj finished the 6th frame with ease putting the scoreboard at 5-1.
Pankaj’s experiment for a 2 cushion cannon at 24 instead of a long red in-off to top right pocket gave an opening to Dhruv. Dhruv came short for the red pot in-off to the top right pocket and missed leaving Pankaj to pot white and double baulk with the score at 40-24 favouring Dhruv. A very nice long red pot got Pankaj to 54 and build his lead with red since the Yellow was behind the baulk line. But Pankaj’s touch red pot to centre pot hung in the mouth and his cue ball came in line between Dhruv’s cue ball and the red. Dhruv tried a follow cannon and missed leaving a comfortable position to Pankaj. Pankaj at 84 tried a top cushion cannon and missed. Dhruv converted the opportunity and finished with a thin white pot to move the scoreboard to 5-2.
Pankaj’s red in-off to the bottom right pot caught the object ball too thick leaving the red close to top cushion almost behind the red spot. Pankaj’s played defense at 5. Dhruv took a risky cannon and build an excellent break of 78 and missed a cannon in the top table. Pankaj’s sheer experience of playing finals helped him refocus to make the 95 unfinished break to win the frame and the match 6-2.
Rajan Khinvasara- Chairman of Manisha Group of Companies and President of Billiards & Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) as well the Billiards & Snooker Association of Maharashtra (BSAM)
Rajan Khinvasara- Chairman of Manisha Group of Companies is the man behind successful Real Estate Company known by its development in Residential, Commercial / Shopping Mall, IT Parks, Multiplex; Entertainment and Hospitality in Pune.
He is the President of Billiards & Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) as well the Billiards & Snooker Association of Maharashtra (BSAM)
He has served 2 Terms as Vice President of BSFI: Yr. 2010-2014 & Yr. 2014-2018 & as President of BSAM (Yr. 2014- 17). Vice President of BSAM for two terms (Yr. 2008-2011 & Yr. 2011- 2014)
Dated back in 1985, he recalls his first encounter with the world of cue sports at The New Club (Poona) Ltd; and thereafter at The Poona Club, where he developed his passion to play snooker and got playing at the Poona Club. Since then it’s been 36 years and there’s no looking back. When asked to share this journey, he is amazed and proud to reach at a level where he is able to contribute immensely to this sport. From being the Title sponsor of 13 National Championships held across India (Year 2006- 2020) & 2 Asian Championships held in India (Yr. 2014 & 2018 to 6 World Championships (Yr. 2007 to 2019), the feat continues.
Year 2021 was a challenging year for the Billiards & Snooker Federation of India (BSFI); but Kudos to the President, Rajan Khinvasara that despite the pandemic and dire situations , BSFI has successfully managed to end 2021 on an optimistic & commendable note for the Cue-sports Fraternity of India.
With prevalent Covid restrictions and limitations “The 88th Billiards and Snooker Nationals and 10th 6 Red Snooker” took off with a bang on the 24th of November 2021 and successfully concluded with a dash of splendor on 29th of Dec 2021, just before the omicron surge across the country.
The Nationals were postponed by 10 months, due to the Pandemic, nevertheless the President and his team were determined and how.” this was the first time that both the 2 Championships were hosted in the same venue successively”.
With unfeigned thanks to the Almighty for its benign blessings that sailed us through the 36 days of this magnanimous Championship without anyone being affected by Covid, Mr. Rajan Khinvasara expressed his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Sunil Bajaj, the most efficient Secretary-General of BSFI & Hon. Secretary of MPBSA & his team members for the tremendous work without which this tournament wouldn’t have been possible; the Chancellor & CMD- Er. Sanjeev Agarwal of SAGE University and his subordinates for generously supporting BSFI with top class facilities and a majestic venue of the SAGE University; The M.P. Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs, Mr. Ashok Shandilya, the National Coach & team and the Chief Referee, Mr. Prakash Mehrotra and his fellow referees.
This 36 days National Championship witnessed the participation of 970 players from age 11 to 70 years; it was notably a marathon compendium of 14 Events, diligently conducted by 26 Referee-Official.
The winners were:
1. 10th 6 Red Snooker– S. Shrikrishna (PSPB)
2. Ladies- Vidya Pillai (Kar).
3. 88th Senior Billiards- Pankaj Advani (PSPB)
4. 88th Senior Snooker- Ishpreet Singh (Mah)
5. 30th Ladies Billiards- Varshaa Sanjeev (Kar)
6. 30th Ladies Snooker- Amee Kamani (MP).
7.46th Junior Boys- Billiards -Rayaan Razmi ( Mah).
8. 46th junior boys Snooker- Rayaan Razmi (Mah).
9. 14th junior girls-Billiards- Anupama R. (TN).
10. 14th junior girls Snooker- Anupama R. (TN)
11. 17th Sub junior boys Billiards- Sumehr Mago (Mah).
12. 17th Sub junior boys Snooker- Ranveer Duggal (Chand).
13. 14th Sub junior girls Billiards- Snenthra Babu (TN)
14. 14th Sub junior girls Snooker- Kanisha Jurani (MP).
Overcoming the never ending obstacles and creating such grandeur moment as the concluding Nationals is an achievement to boast but the relentless Mr. Rajan Khinvasara exclaims. ‘it’s still a long way to go …he will take a toast only when this sport gets the much deserving fame and position on the Indian Sports scene and a top spot in the Olympics”. His thrust is towards marketing and branding of Cue sports on Pan India level in order to tap as much potential from the smaller cities and rural areas and bring in new players/ talent in the forefront. He wishes to see cue sports being coached in every school and colleges in India, as part of their curriculum.
