I've always tried to be an artiste with unique style'

Reigning world billiards champion Pankaj Advani is one among the two sportsmen to be conferred with the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third highest civilian honour, this year. The world renowned cueist who won his first world championship at the age of 18, when he just began his college education in Bengaluru, shares his experiences of handling constant ups and downs in his career in a chat with Ralph Alex Arakal.

At the juncture of being selected for the Padma Bhushan, how do you see this honour? Is it a responsibility or an accomplishment or a mix of both? 
I feel very humbled and rejoice at this juncture of being conferred with the Padma Bhushan. This is a great moment not just for my family but also for the glory of cue sports. I personally see this as an acknowledgment of the fact that we have come a long way as a sport in India.

How has Bengaluru and Karnataka been as a second home to you ever since your family migrated to the city in your early days?
We decided to move to Bengaluru from Kuwait following the Iraqi invasion which took place and I was five years old. Since then I have been a Bengalurean in all aspects. Spending more than 25 years, I have witnessed a sea of opportunities open before me, as the city is one among the sports capitals in India with great infrastructure and support available. The snooker tables and the atmosphere at Karnataka State Billiards Association (KSBA) offers the best of its kind in Asia, with 12 snooker tables available for my practice sessions as well. Moreover, I met the right people at the right time (including my coach Arvind Savur) in this cosmopolitan city.

How has being the Head Boy of a renowned school influenced your formative years as an individual? How difficult was it to manage academics and sport together back then?
Luckily the choice of institutions from where I pursued education, at Frank Anthony’s Public School (FAPS) and SBM Jain College, were also right. After all, education is an important aspect of life and I had to keep my promise made to my mom that I wouldn’t let my grades suffer for the sake of sport, when I started playing seriously at the age of 11. The responsibility of being the Head Boy at FAPS was handed over to me by the then Principal Brown, who believed that I would come up in my sport later down the lane. I had just started my UG course at Jain College when I won my first Men’s World Snooker Championship at the age of 18. In short, studying at good institutions taught me good behaviour, obedience and etiquette, helping me lead a balanced life over the years.

When and how did you realise that the pool table was your forte?
One day when I was 10, I guess, I followed my elder brother to a small snooker club in our locality where I potted the ball at my first shot ever itself.  Since then I started playing more and it was at the age of 16 after reaching the finals of the Asian World Championship that I realised I could go the distance in this sport. I still remember the day I went up to Mr Savur requesting him to coach me, but I felt dejected as he asked me to gain height saying I was too short. Later that year, I had gained some inches when he invited me to his place during the Christmas holidays and from there it has been a steady graph. I wouldn’t have been half the player of what I am today if not for his mentoring.

Why do you think is billiards or snooker not given the same importance as other sports like cricket or hockey in India?
Well, that’s a question the media and our country should answer. I have been doing my job steadily by winning world titles and different competitions. It is always up to the country and how it is portrayed by the media to decide on who deserves the fair share of the pie and how to acknowledge their accomplishments. We all know that the media plays an influential role in making or breaking a sportsperson’s career.

After winning your first title in 2003 and then adding 17 more such titles to your name over the years, how have you been managing the ups and downs in your career?
A sportsperson’s career is not all rosy and easy. We have to face different issues at various stages. When I won my first title in 2003 and later moved towards billiards in 2005, it was essential for me to keep consistency to ensure that none thought that my first title was a flash in the pan. In India, it is quite challenging to get financial and moral support at the start of a sports career and these come only when one becomes accomplished. It is good that we now have an Olympian as our Sports Minister, who knows the struggle of each sportsperson right from the grass-root levels. Fortunately, I was brought up in supportive surroundings and I’m grateful to the Almighty for helping me discover my talent at a young age itself.

Do you see yourself winning a higher award on the list after making it to becoming a Padma Bhushan awardee?
I have never played with awards in mind as this is what I’d like to advice to aspiring athletes and sportspersons as well. Sport is a serious form of entertainment where we can and should learn from each mistake. If the authorities and my nation think I deserve another recognition, I might be lucky enough to be at the receiving end of a Padma Vibhushan and then the Bharat Ratna.

How have you planned your future looking at yourself as the 18-time World Champion, at the age of 32?
Be it any sport, it is a game of numbers, but I have always tried to be an artiste with a unique style on and off the table. For me creativity in my game is the priority and that cannot be quantified. The fact that I want to shine as an artiste keeps me going. I have also been seriously thinking about opening an academy in the next few years to train and tame more aspiring players, gifting more champions for our nation.