The Hindu : Sport : Senior Nationals from today

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Friday, Dec 07, 2007
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Senior Nationals from today

V.V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD: The 74th senior National billiards and snooker championship gets underway at the Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy Indoor Stadium (Yousufguda) here on Friday.

That the focus still remains on the eight-time World champion, Geet Sethi, and the reigning World champion (points format), Pankaj Advani, is a pointer that this edition too might just be reduced to a battle between Sethi’s experience and Advani’s youthful exuberance.

For Sethi, this may be just another sojourn on the National circuit.

That he is the defending World snooker champion can be a big motivating factor to prove a point or two — not about his class, but to remind others about his unsaturated hunger to hog the limelight.

“I cannot just think of being away from the sport. It so fascinating for me even now,” he said.

This edition of the Nationals will also feature the junior, sub-juniors and the all-ladies championships simultaneously from December 7 to 24.

B.L. Somayajulu, Tournament Director, told The Hindu that for the first time in Nationals history, size mattered, both in terms of participation and the 12 tables that would be in place besides the mandatory four practice tables.

“This should be a unique edition in many aspects and thanks to Capt. P.V.K. Mohan, President, BSFI, every effort is being made to see that the players enjoy the comforts of a perfect ambience at the venue.”

Despite Sethi and Advani being tipped as the hot favourites, players like Rupesh Shah (reigning World champion in time-frame format), Ashok Shandilya, Devendra Joshi, Aloke Kumar, Manan Chandra, Dharmendra Lilly and Arvind Savur are capable of pulling off a surprise or two.

The ladies championship will see reigning World champion Anuja Thakur and Chitra Magaimaraj among others in action. Veteran T.G. Kamala Devi (Tamil Nadu) is expected to provide the emotional presence.

For the host, Lucky Vatnani, now training in England thanks to the efforts of the Seaway Group, is expected to reach in time for the snooker event.

The State Legislative Assembly Speaker, K.R. Suresh Reddy, will formally inaugurate the tournament at 9.30 a.m. on Friday.

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