Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
KSBA, the Mecca of cuesport
AVINASH NAIRAVINASH NAIR
|
City-based billiards and snooker players have won accolades for Bangalore at national and international levels. And a major part of credit for this achievement goes to Karnataka State Billiards Association. Since its inception, the association has been striving to provide the best of facilities to players.
|
CALL IT the Mecca of Indian cuesport or by any other name, Karnataka State Billiards Association (KSBA) is turning out to be a "hot-spot" destination in the world of billiards and snooker.
Nestled in the hub of Bangalore's busy thoroughfare, the Association building is an infrastructural pride, stated to be amongst the best in the continent. And the compliments have come pouring from far and wide. The chairman of International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF), Brien J. Benet says: "To the best of my knowledge, there is no other billiards association anywhere in the world that provides facilities on its own premises compared with those available to the members of the KSBA."
However, it is a story of sweat and toil that brought about what today stands as a testimony of passion and commitment towards a sport that even in the 21st Century is yet to win favours from the corporates.
Run since 1949 at the Becks on Brigade Road, the Mysore State Billiards Association got it's current name only in 1975. Enthusiasts such as M. Chenniappan and late B.C. Ananthasayanam, along with M.M. Begg were instrumental in the Association taking roots. Players of the calibre of T.A. Selvaraj brought glory and trophies to the Association. In 1949, when "Tiger" as Selvaraj was fondly referred to, claimed a coveted double of both the billiards and snooker national titles the seeds of a continued contribution to the sport in the form of talent and titles was sowed. Arvind Savur, M.G. Jayaram, B.V. Srinivasamurthy, B. Bhaskar, Nikhil Krishnan Kutty, Duncan Mckenzie, I.H. Manudev, and current prodigy Pankaj Advani among the men, and women such as Usha Rao, Judy Walia, Farah Khan, and present national billiards champion, Umadevi in the distaff side have done the Association and the country proud.
With the State Government granting the land in 1975, the first phase of the Association's own premises took shape in 1983. But flash floods in 1986 made the ground floor redundant and the second phase of the present premises was constructed. Since then there has been no looking back. From a humble beginning with just two tables to eight billiards, three pool, and one carrom ball tables of international standard, the association has come a long way.
The current incumbents — President, S. Balasubramaniam and Secretary, Subahu Desai — form an ideal pair.
The two men, with matching wavelength and dynamism, have ensured the Association's activities have continued unflaggingly. It has to be said to the credit of the enterprising duo that the spadework done by the earlier generation in providing the infrastructure is put to use to the optimum and a series of national and international events and championships that the association conducted is ample evidence.
The McDowell World Amateur Snooker championship held in 1987 was the trend-setter for a clutch of international events at the KSBA.
The enviable list includes the Escorts Yamaha Doubles Billiards championship and Gold Flake World Billiards Championship (in 1990), 5th World Under 21 Snooker Championship and Gold Flake International Snooker Master (1991), 12th World Under 21 Snooker Championship (2000), and the 2nd Asian Billiards championship.
It only highlights the commitment and contribution of the Association towards the sport. If India claimed two golds, two silvers, and a bronze in the Bangkok Asian Games (1998), when the cue sport was introduced as medal event, the credit should go largely to KSBA for its infrastructure and ready facilities extended.
The first and second coaching camps for the forthcoming Pusan Asian Games is going on at the Association premises, where 20 players are being trained.
In accordance and recognition of the Association's contribution, the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) allotted the senior and junior billiards and snooker nationals to KSBA to commemorate its Golden Jubilee. The February 2000 nationals is still spoken highly off, by young and old alike.
B.S. Sudhir a former vice-president and a vociferous member of the association lauded the contribution of KSBA towards India's rising status in world billiards.
Having organised the Senior National Snooker at Planters' Club in Sakleshpur (Hassan Dist.) in 1990-91 wherein Mumbai's Yasin Merchant triumphed, Mr. Sudhir has seen the Association grow in stature.
With 1,400 members, the association has ambitious plans ahead. "Our dream project is to set up a Centre of Excellence in cue sport. Although the idea came up from none-other than Executive Director, Sports Authority of India, M.P. Ganesh, three years ago, no headway has been made. The Hindujas and others have literally shunned the project," said Secretary, Subahu Desai.
C. Ravindranath, a state-level player and currently an official, was all praise for the present committee. "The game is dying, but thanks to KSBA's initiatives and developmental programmes, some semblance of restoration is taking place. Hope the current lot of committee members continue their good work," he said.
According to Sunil Sharma, another prominent figure and a regular at the association since 1994: "It's a happening place in all respects as far as billiards and snooker goes. Encouragement is showered in good measure and with a good number of tournaments taking place, youngsters get a chance to learn and gain confidence."
Karnataka State Billiards Association building.
In the Talent category Scheme, introduced in 1994, players in the 14 to 21 age group are groomed and given adequate exposure till the age of 21 after which the promising ones are given concessional memberships. Pankaj Advani at 16 and a Asian Billiards runner-up is one such.
The expansion work on the premises is on the anvil. "We want to build another floor and throw open more opportunities for the youth in this sport," said Mr. Balasubramaniam. His words are echoed by none other than the current Asian and National Billiards champion, Ashok Shandilya. "Although I hail from Indore, Bangalore and KSBA are my home. For my National and Asian titles have come from the championship held here," says the Railway cueist.
The parting shot came from none other than Henry Boteju, the veteran billiards and snooker pro from Sri Lanka who was in the City recently for the Second Asian Billiards championship. "No wonder talents such as Advani and others have emerged from India. With such facilities, many more should emerge from the stables of this wonderful place," says the Sri Lankan.
Can the future of green baize look any greener?
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
|
