HYDERABAD: “I’m thrilled but at the same time I’m a wee bit disappointed that I could not win the national title,’’ said 12-year-old Itlapuram Lahiri, who finished runners-up in the sub-junior snooker girls category at the National Billiards and Snooker Championship that was held at Agra recently.
Lahiri, a seventh class student at St Ann’s High School, Tarnaka, had a fine run in the championship before losing to Keerath Bhandal of Delhi 1-2 in the final. “It was a close final,” said Lahiri. She showed great form and had the measure of Savreen Chawla (Madhya Pradesh) and Shireen Limaya (Maharashtra) in the initial rounds. In the semi-finals, Lahiri outplayed Sania Arif of Delhi 2-0.
Daughter of Dr I Sivanaga Prasad, a neurosurgeon at Railway Hospital, Lahiri began playing snooker last year. Her father himself being a snooker player was an and invited influence on Lahiri who found herself being drawn to the game. “She used to accompany me to the billiards hall and gradually she showed her interest in the game. I was surprised with her technique. She could pot the balls easily,’’ said Prasad.
Prasad and Lahiri were fortunate that former national number two snooker player Simachalam was also a Railways player. “That was the biggest plus point,’’ said Prasad.
She has been training under Simachalam since last year. Lahiri took part in the national event last year and it took one year for the AP girl to showcase her repertoire of talent. I’m a fan of of Geet Sethi and an avid follower of his game,’’ said Lahiri.