Maharashtra cueists are meticulously going through the grind during the preparatory camp at the P.J. Hindu Gymkhana billards room. The juniors and seniors are working on different exercises to fine tune their game and get ready for the stronger and stiffer challenges during National billiards and snooker championship which is scheduled to cue off with the Sub-junior events from January 18, in Indore.
Players of the Mahrashtra team pay attention to coach Yasin Merchant, during a preparatory camp ahead of the National billiards & snooker championship to be held in Indore .
The Billiards & Snooker Association of Maharashtra (BSAM) which has been making great efforts to promote and encourage the development of the sport is keen that players from Maharashtra win National titles. Aditya Mehta, who now represents PSPB, was the last cueist from the state to win the National senior snooker title in 2016. In the same year, Ishpreet Singh Chadha won both the junior billiards and snooker crowns.
The camp is being conducted under the guidance and supervision of accomplished players and former champions Yasin Merchant (snooker) and Ashok Shandilya (billards). Thanks to the cooperation from the Hindu Gymkhana who have been gracious to allow the use of their billiards tables, this structured camp was organized for the first-time ever.
Three-time National snooker champion, Yasin, who last won in 2001 believes that the camp would help the players who are made to try out specific routines unlike by just playing a couple of frames. “I want to get them to concentrate on what they are doing. Solo practice can get boring and monotonous and this is why we are holding the camp. It will help team bonding and the players can get inspired and motivate each other. The players can also try to emulate a teammate who ever has done well,” pointed out Yasin, a former two-time Asian snooker champion.
“Besides we wanted to evaluate the seriousness of the players and instill discipline in them,” he further stated.
Yasin gives the players exercises by putting them in match like situations and tells them to try out the different options to playing a pot and get into position for the next shot. He then explains the best possible approach and how to strike the cue ball, either by playing with the running or check sides, and making optimum use of the cushions.
“Through these routines I want to help them build on their mental stamina and how to stay focused for long periods as these are two important factors for every player as it would help in break building. If a player constructs a big break he can be assured of winning the frame. They should also develop hunger to succeed and to stay long in the game,” explained Yasin.
Yasin also mentioned that he is not working on the players’ technique as that would confuse them.
Ashok Shandilya lauded BSAM efforts but felt that it should have been of a longer duration. “It’s a very good initiative, but if it was planned for a longer duration it would have been beneficial as it could change the concept of the players. Honestly, I don’t believe that I have helped improve or make much change to the billiards players. This is a very good concept and I hope such camps are planned for long terms.”
Women player Sangeeta Hemchand “The camp is very interesting and I appreciate the efforts of Yasin and BSAM. Such camps will encourage and helpful to the players, BSAM must organize more such camps on a regular basis.
Ishpreet Singh Chadha, winner of the National junior billiards and snooker titles is glad that the camp was organized. “The camp was a very good experience and the best thing that has happened for us. I thank Yasin Sir and Ashok Sir for giving all us players the attention. All of us and especially the juniors had the opportunity to learn so many things from both of them. We players will certainly carry all that we have learnt during the camp and implement it in our matches at the Nationals,” Ishpreet mentioned.
Yasin said that the state players are all young guys and are a talented lot and from one of them a champion is going to come up. If we manage to get a champion this year itself it would be excellent,” Yasin opined.
Main entries of Maharashtra team:
Sub-junior billiards: Shahyan Razmi, Rayaan Razmi, Sumher Mago, Kresishh Gurbaxani.
Sub-junior snooker: Shahyan Razmi, Rayaan Razmi, Sumher Mago, Arya Bapat, Kresishh Gurbaxani.
Junior billiards: Sparsh Pherwani, Rayaan Razmi, Sumher Mago.
Junior snooker: Sparsh Pherwani, Rayaan Razmi, Harmehr Mago,
Senior billiards: Rohan Jambusaria, Vishal Madan, Rishabh Thakkar.
Senior snooker: Ishpreet Singh Chadha, Rahul Sachdev, Hasan Badami, Sparsh Pherwani, Mukund Bharadia.
The Schedule:
42nd Junior National Billiards & Snooker Championship and 13th Sub-Junior National Billiards & Snooker Championship from January 18 to 27.
84th Senior National Billiards & Snooker Championship – Billiards from January 25 to February 1.
10th Sub-Junior Girls & Junior Girls National Billiards & Snooker Championship from January 30 to February 3.
26tth Ladies National Billiards & Snooker Championship from February 3 to 10.