A great feeling: Umadevi

“It's a great feeling and the whole thing is yet to sink in,” said R. Umadevi, the new world women's billiards champion.

The 47-year-old Bangalorean, who flew back from London, said: “The win in the senior snooker event earlier gave me the confidence to do well. In the final too, though trailing in the initial stages, I played my natural game and steadily inched past Booney.”

What next? Umadevi's reply was simple like the cueist herself: “After a few days' break, I will start training again. There is no substitute to it.”

In the semifinal, Umadevi, who works for the State Horticulture Department, accounted for Statemate and two-time world champion Chitra Magimairaj, while Booney stopped the marauding Tina Owen-Sevilton.

The results:

Final (one hour): R. Umadevi bt Emma Bonney 201-143;

Semifinals (45 minutes): Umadevi bt Chitra Magimairaj 130-80; Bonney bt Tina Owen-Sevilton 281-94.

Round-robin league (45 minutes): Umadevi bt Owen-Sevilton 161(41, 35)-78; Chitra bt Maureen Rowland 183-43; Chitra bt Owen-Sevilton 128-123; Umadevi bt Palmius 189-29; Umadevi bt Rowland 169(64)-59; Bonney bt Chitra 209-91; Chitra bt Palmius 114-107; Umadevi bt Bonney 140-117; Umadevi bt Chitra 126-115.