Hyderabad: At just 30, Pankaj Advani is the king of cue sports. He has won everything that is on offer on the table, several times over. Notwithstanding the 15 world titles in billiards and snooker, he is the only player in the world to win global titles in all formats of both versions of the green baize game. It might sound absurd, but then the champion is hungry for more! “It’s not just about titles and achievements, but taking the sport to a new level,” the suave Pankaj quips when asked about his motivation levels.
“As a sportsperson you always want to improve, make the game look easier and attract more people to the sport. The satisfaction comes from actually playing the game, like the way (Roger) Federer plays tennis, Tiger Woods plays golf... these guys are role models for everyone,” he softly draws a parallel. There are countless crowns in his crowded cabinet but it’s not difficult for Pankaj to pick the best. “They say your first love is always your favourite so I’ll go with my first World title — the 2003 IBSF World Snooker championship in China,” he says. “I was a nobody at that time and wasn’t expected to do much. I went out there as an 18-year-old college kid and had fun. Unfortunately I found my first love at college not in a girl but in a game,” he adds tongue-in-cheek.
That love affair has grown deep indeed — he is now married to the sport. How does he keep his cool in those tense situations? “I owe a lot of my calmness to my brother who is a sports psychologist,” comes a composed reply. “We have worked a lot on the mental aspect because in sport, at the highest level, everyone has the ability but sometimes it’s just that five per cent of extra mental strength and edge you have that can make the difference.”
Pankaj is currently in the city playing a Team India selection camp tournament at the Baulkline Cuesports Academy. He is clearly at home here. “Hyderabad has always been a friendly city when it comes to cue sports and that is because of Capt (PVK) Mohan, president of the BSFI (national federation) as well as the IBSF (world body). The letters may be the same in the two organisations but the roles are so different. To be the president of the world body is an outstanding achievement and that is why we have had so much activity in India over the last 10 years. The state association (TCSA) has also taken cue from him and the BSFI has put in a lot of effort in organising this wonderful camp. All the top players are looking forward to a lot more action in Hyderabad in the near future,” he says.
