Date:02/05/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/05/02/stories/2004050207251800.htm

Sport - Billiards & Snooker

Pankaj Advani to spearhead Indian challenge

BANGALORE, MAY 1. The World champion, Pankaj Advani, will spearhead the Indian challenge in the Asian snooker championship, scheduled to be held in Jordan, from June 5 to 10.

The other two players in the three member Indian squad, named by the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India are Yasin Merchant and Alok Kumar. While Pankaj Advani, got a direct entry as the World champion, Yasin and Alok made the cut after competing in an eight man round robin National coaching camp tournament held at the KSBA Hall here over the week.

Alok, ranked No.1 after the National championship, finished second overall with 6307 points, exactly 101 points behind Pankaj at 6408 points.But it was Yasin, who impressed in the event and he improved his National ranking from No.8 ( after the National championship) to No.3 after coaching camp, with 5177 points.

Yasin's fluent win over Pankaj in the coaching camp tournament was the high point of his performance.

"The camp went on well and all the three boys are in good nick and we are surely expecting some good results in the Asian championship,'' said coach Manoj Kothari. Besides, Kothari, the National chief coach, Michael Ferreira and S. Jairaj supervised the camp.— Our Special Correspondent