Britons confirm participation

By A Correspondent

MUMBAI, OCT. 20. Two leading snooker players from the United Kingdom will be the star attractions at the third CCI Invitation ladies snooker tournament scheduled to cue off at the Cricket Club of India's Wilson Jones billiards hall from Sunday.

Current world No. 1 Kelly Fisher, a three-time World ladies champion and Lisa Quick, the reigning World ladies snooker champion and World ladies pool champion, have confirmed their participation. Both cueists have an illustrious record and their proficiency at the green baize game would certainly give them an edge over the Indian participants.

They have been directly seeded into the quarterfinal stage. The 23-year-old Fisher, who first won the World title in 1998 and retained her crown the following two years, has a highest tournament break of 143. The 26-year-old Quick should not find it difficult to fly back home with the prestigious title.

The Indian challenge will be spearheaded by Anuja Thakur of Maharashtra, who is the reigning National snooker and billiards champion, former national champion Judith Walia of Karnataka and Rajasthan's Pooja Galundia, who finished runner-up to Anuja in the Nationals.

Other leading players from the country are last year's winner R. Umadevi of Karnataka, runner-up Neeta Sanghvi, former champion Varsha Majmudar, former two-time national champion Heena Khandelwal, Sangeeta Hemchand, Jagruti Patel, Meenal Thakur all from Maharashtra, besides Chitra Magimairaj of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu State champion Vidhya Pillai.

The Indians will have to bring out their best if they are to provide a stiff challenge. Anuja, Judith and Varsha are capable of putting up a superb performance and take the fight to Kelly and Lisa.

The Indians have been divided into two groups and will play a round-robin league of best-of-five frames from October 21 to 23. The top three will qualify for the quarterfinals. After a rest day on October 24, the knockout will be played at the C.K. Nayudu Hall. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be of best-of- seven frame and will held on October 25 and 26. The final, contested over nine frames, will be held on October 27.

The groupings: Group A: R. Umadevi (Kar), Varsha Mujumdar (Mah), Jagruti Patel (Mah), Judith Walia (Kar), Sangeeta Hemchand (Mah) and Meenal Thakur (Mah).

Group B: Anuja Thakur (Mah), Pooja Galundia (Raj), Heena Khandelwal (Mah), Neeta Sanghvi (Mah), Chitra M. (Kar), Vidhya Pillai (TN).

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Anil Kumar sets tracks ablaze
Next     : India in two finals