Standing on its own feet! And standing proud and tall. The Karnataka State Billiards Association is possibly the only sports institution in the country which has done wonders for itself and the game without any or much support from outside agencies.
For cue sports is a game that does not generate income. The Indian team’s assignments are not a source of income for the association unlike some others.
Yet, since its inception in 1949, the KSBA has cared out a niche for itself earning accolades from players, coaches, officials from India and abroad.
“Its glory is due to the efforts of great visionaries like Chenniappan from the house of ‘Nilgiris’, who passed away recently.
He was associated with the game since 1943.
He founded KSBA in 1949 and served KSBA in various capacities from 1949 to 1992.
It was a great privilege to KSBA when he inaugurated the beginning of the Project in 2008 and also completion of Phase-1 of the project in 2010 as well.
Unfortunately, he did not live to see it for himself,” said KSBA President M C Uthappa.
The in-house facilities contained in 40,000 Sqft. includes Billiards Unlimited, Baulk line Bar , Intermediate Lounge, Multi Purpose Hall, Card Room, Swimming Pool, Family dining , Library and Guest Rooms. “To the best of my knowledge there is no other billiards association anywhere in the world that provides facility in its own premises compared with those available to the members of the KSBA,” said Brien J Benet, then President of IBSF in the year 1987.
The World’s most sought after professional snooker coach Derek (Del) Hill was fullsome in his praise when he was here on a coaching assignment.
“It is incredible.
I have not seen anything like in the world. You just roll out of bed and you have everything. You don’t have to walk out at all for anything. I have not seen a facility like this,” Hill had said.
Coming as it does from two very reputed people in the game at different points of time, the KSBA is indeed an example worth but difficult to emulate.
People have been making a beeline for membership with the addition of newer facilities.
Not just that, the KSBA has always come forward to organise big tournaments, host coaching camps for the Indian team and also its own youth and junior programme to roll out champions in an unending stream.
Doyens like T A Selvaraj, Omar Rehman, Arvind Savur, M G Jayaram, BVS Murthy, present day champs like Pankaj Advani, I H Manudev, Balaji Reddy, have trooped out of its corridors.
Among women, Usha Rao, Judy Walia, Farah Khan, Umadevi R., Chitra Magimairaj have all been torch-bearers for the women’s game.
The KSBA is all set to host the IBSF world Snooker championships and add another feather to its already overcrowded cap.
Some of KSBA’s Milestones
■ 1949: Mysore State Billiards Association was established.
■ 1963: Conducted National Billiards and Snooker Championships for the first time.
■ 1974: Celebrated Silver Jubilee.
■ 1989: Conducted the fi rst-ever Ladies National Billiards and Snooker championship’ ■ 1990: Conducted the world Pro-am Billiards Championship’ andWorld Billiards Championship’.
■ 1991: Conducted the fi fth World Under 21 Snooker Championship’ and International Snooker Masters.
■ 1993: Conducted the Grand Slam World Professional Billiards Tournament.
■ 1996: Conducted Grand Slam Series Professional Billiards event
■ 1999: Celebrated Golden Jubilee.
■ 2000: Conducted the 12th World under 21 Snooker Championship.
■ 2001: Conducted first ever Pool Nationals
■ 2008: conducted IBSF World billiards (time and points) championships.
■ 2008: Started Modernization project of Rs 12.50 crore to be completed in two phases.
■ 2010: Completion of phase 1 of modernization at a cost of Rs 7.5 crore.
■ 2011: IBSF world snooker championships.
