Date:23/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/23/stories/2004092310772000.htm

Sport - Billiards & Snooker

Advani to lead Indian challenge

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 22. World champion Pankaj Advani will lead the Indian challenge at the IBSF World snooker championship to be held at Veldhovel, the Netherlands, from November 20 to December 4.

Advani gets a direct entry by virtue of being the defending champion, while Alok Kumar clinched a berth by virtue of being the Asian champion.

Each country was offered two berths, but courtesy the two automatic entries, India will field four players.

The Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) had conducted final selection trials in Kolkata and points accumulated through the graded tournaments were considered while making the ranking list. Alok topped the list with 9155 points followed by Advani (8715), Manan Chandra (7539), Rafath Habib (7535) and Yasin Merchant (7265).

The team: Pankaj Advani, Alok Kumar, Manan Chandra and Rafath Habib. Coach: Michael Ferreira. — Our Sports Reporter