The Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) is the National Governing Body for overseeing the growth and development of cue sports in India. Visionaries like M.M. Baig were instrumental in the foundation of the Federation way back in 1926. Since its inception, the BSFI had been operating from Calcutta except for a brief period of four years, when it was housed in the then erstwhile Bombay. BFSI since then has worked constantly towards increasing the popularity and creating awareness of the game in the country. It is the result of its constant efforts that people in India have now started recognizing the sport on a mass level.
In a country like India where sports other than cricket take long time to gain foothold, Cue Sports too has had its share of struggle. The major drawback in growing popularity of the sport is the fact that it is regarded as the “sport of affluent and elite” in the country. There is a popular view that billiards is not meant for masses unlike sports like Cricket or Football. So in order to make Cue Sports more appealing vis-a-vis other games in India, the BSFI has undertaken a number of promotional activities including organizing national championships at the sub-junior level. BSFI also endeavours to encourage participation of young girls in the sport and it has been observed that over the last few years there has been increased participation of girls / ladies in Cue Sports. They have also started to perform well at International levels winning medals and bringing laurels for the country.
Taking a cue from the parent body BSFI, a number of state associations have been playing an active role to promote the sport among youngsters. Various regional training camps are being organized by BSFI and its regional counterparts in order to trace the budding raw talent and provide it with sponsorship and funds in order to excel in this game. It has been the result of these ground level efforts that youngsters in the country have gradually started developing interest in this game.
Apart from working hard for the popularity of billiards, the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) have also worked in increasing the popularity of other cue sports in India. The federation is currently accredited from various national and international sports organizations like Indian Olympic Association, Asian Confederation of Billiards sport, International Billiards and Snooker Federation, World Confederation of Billiards Sports, World Pool Association and the Asian Carom Billiards Confederation.
