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An immaculate player
L eading
the women's snooker brigade in Karnataka, Judy Walia has
bagged the state women's snooker title for a record of 11 times.
Known for her fluent strokes, she became India's first women's snooker
champion when she won the crown in 1989. She won her second national
title in 1997.
Judy Walia is 'married' to snooker. The cue sport caught her fancy
fifteen years ago and even now she continues to fall in love with
it every time she sees the green baize.
Playing the cue game for more than a decade and participating in
top-ranking national tournaments, she has carved a sizable niche
for herself in terms of proficiency and mental toughness.
Karnataka has been strong in women's cue sport with Judy Walia,
T.V. Sridevi, a lawyer by profession, Chitra, a state
hockey captain turned snooker player and Farah Khan keeping
the flag going. Now the game has gained national popularity with
a wide spectrum of women participating in it.
Our Sports Correspondent, J.Vinay, spoke to Judy
Walia at length about her love for the game of snooker and
the future of the women's cue sport in the country.
Click
here for an exclusive interview
 The
Prince of Indian billiards, 15-year-old Pankaj Advani, is the current
Junior National billiards champion. Addicted to the game from a very
young age, he has all the ingredients of a true champion.
A tenth standard student of Frank Anthony Public School, Pankaj made
the connoisseurs of the game sit up and watch when he defeated former
world number two and United Kingdom champion Subash B. Agarwal in
a preliminary league match. Former international champions and world
billiards professionals of India were quick to hail the arrival of
another Geet Sethi.
Coached by none other than Arvind Savur, the former national billiards
champion, initially, Pankaj acknowledges his success in the game to
his coach and his family, particularly his mother and brother.
Achievements:
Won the state junior ranking (under-21) snooker championships thrice.
Click
here for an exclusive interview
 Geet
Sethi is rated as one of the best billiards players the game has
ever produced. His success as a cueist is remarkable. He is a fluent
and immaculate player, having a lot of patience and concentration.
And this cool temperament has always given an extra edge against his
opponents. His dedication to the game is tremendous and his name is
synonymous with the game itself.
He started playing at the young age of 13. From then on, he has never
looked back. He won the amateur billiards championship in '85
and '87 and the world professional billiards championship in
'92, '93 and '95. He has not only made a mark in billiards, but also
snooker.
Awards:
Padma Shri
Arjuna Award
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
Birla Sports Award
He is known the world over for his spectacular display of shots. Often
called 'Jeet' Sethi, he is an icon for many young cueists all over
the world.
Sethi's other interest is music. In fact, music is such a passion
with him that his son is named Raag and his daughter Jazz.
He is presently living in Ahmedabad (where the office of his
sports portal is located) with his wife, Kiran (the popular
small-screen actress) and his children.
Recently, Geet Sethi was in our city at the venue of the World
Under 21 Snooker Championship. Our correspondent, J.Vinay
caught up with him at the Karnataka State Billiards Association
and spoke to him about his sports portal and the future of the game
of snooker.
Click
here for an exclusive interview.
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