Pankaj felicitated for winnin-Asian Billiards Crown

Bangalore, Apr 15 (UNI) World Billiards Champion Pankaj Advani was felicitated today by Karnataka State Billiards Association (KSBA) for having won the Asian Championship at Myanamar on Sunday.

KSBA Vice President M C Uthappa presented Rs 15,000 cash to Pankaj, who is the first Indian to win the title for the second time.

Overwhelmed Pankaj said though he had teething problem in the beginning of the Championship he regained his energy and reached upto finals.

''In the finals my country mate Rupesh Shah had upperhand as he was leading by 12 points in the final frame. But I could somehow pull off in the cliff hanger 5-4'', he added.

He said that winning the title for the first time in 2005 was really thrilling but to win second time it needed lot of concentration and since there was lot of pressure.

In the Championship players from 14 countries had participated.

Pankaj said his next tournament would be Asian Snooker Championship to be held in Doha from May 3 to 11.

In the Semifinals Pankaj had trounced Aung San Oo (Myn) 4-0 and Rupesh had defeated Praput of Thailand 4-3.

This was third title in a row for the 22-year old Bangalorean after retaining his World title in Singapore last September and winning the nationals in Hyderabad later.

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