7-yr-old cues up for national championship

“This is the first time that I will be taking part in a snooker event. My field of expertise till now was pool,but my father and grandfather encouraged me to take part in the event. I will give it my best shot in the championship,” said the Class I student of St Stephen’s School.

Ranveer made his maiden appearance in sub-junior event during the National Pool Championship held in Ludhiana earlier this year when he was just six years old. He will now be rubbing elbows with the other top cueists from the city like Arif Akhtar and Sumit Talwar.

With two hours of daily practice with his grandfather and coach Alkesh Duggal,Ranveer has matured as a player. In the benign presence of his father,Sandeep Duggal,Ranveer will be in august company.

“We were not surprised when Ranveer showed us his prodigious skills with the cue. Born in a family of cueists,snooker seems to flow in his blood. Despite his very young age,he already knows the rules and scoring system. He is a good player and we hope he will go far in life,” said Duggal,who is also a manufacturer of pool tables in Chandigarh.

The young prodigy is excited to take part in the event,which will see at least 270 players from all over the country, and see his heroes in action.

“Pankaj Advani is a very good player and it would be a dream come true to watch him play in flesh during the championship,” said the young cueist.

The last national championship that was held in Chandigarh was seven years ago when the city hosted the Pool Nationals.