BANGALORE: As the Indians gear up to host one leg of the pro snooker circuit event for the first time ever in India in the 2011-12 season, Aditya Mehta now has Lucky Vatnani for company to play in the event.
The Billiards & Snooker Federation of India had the choice of nominating two players for the pro circuit and Aditya and Lucky found a place, according to a BSFI press release on Thursday. But the BSFI has the option of giving six wild cards for the pro event to be held in India. Aditya and Lucky will, presumably, be automatic choices. Pankaj Advani was also offered to play but he declined. From where will the BSFI find the remaining four is the question.
“Let us see how it goes. Lucky Vatnani, as India’s No 3, will participate on the pro circuit. He has also given his consent. Meanwhile, Nigel Olefield, Director, WPBSA is planning to come to India to work out the nitty gritty of holding the professional tour,” said Balasubramaniam, the BSFI secretary.
For the record, Wilson Jones won his two world billiards titles defeating Englishmen. So did Micheal Ferreira. Geet Sethi downed an Australian and a Maltese. In 2002 Ashok Shandilya beat Praput C of Thailand.
Apart from these seven victories in the final, the other seven titles have been won by Indians defeating their own countrymen. Incidentally, apart from 2002, whenever a foreigner has been an opponent, an Indian has emerged only second best up to 2010. An odd win in an Asian Games billiards or snooker event, amateur as they are, might have been there. But then with all nations having limited entries, it might well be an exception. Except for Yasin Merchant, Geet Sethi, Om Agarwal and Aditya Mehta, Indians have not figured in the professional snooker circuit.