YOUNG AND PROMISING

The cues were longer than the cueists but this did not deter Kreishh of Jasudben ML School and Rayaan of St. Mary’s ICSE from playing their shots and enjoying the game in their maiden competitive tournament. Most often they had to use the rest to avoid the discomfort,but while it worked for Kreishh,it didn’t for Rayaan. “I was not focused in the first frame and in the second he sold the black,” explained Kreishh,accompanied by his watchful mother Reetu and father Sanjay,a character actor in big-banner films like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,D-Day,Ek Tha Tiger and the yet to be released Madras Café. “I gained confidence after that and potted well. My cue-ball control is one aspect I need to improve on and Yasin Sir is working on it.” Kreishh later lost 0-2 in the final qualifying round to Sparsh’s brother Harsh.

Unlike Kreishh,Rayaan did not have to bunk school. Making the most of the holiday,11-year-old Rayaan of Elphinstone Cricket Club stepped into the big league with enthusiasm. He led all the way to win the second frame before losing his way in the decider. “It was fun playing,” said Rayaan,who took to the sport only recently. “For my first tournament,I think I played well. Now I would like to play more tournaments especially in the handicap tournaments where I will have an advantage.”

Fourteen-year-old Sparsh of Podar International also bunked school to make it on time for his 10.30 a.m. first round match where he lost to qualifier Shahbaz Khan of Elphinstone CC in straight frames. “I was not potting well but I made amends with safety play. I tried to focus but my opponent happened to be in good form,” reasoned Khar Gymkhana’s Sparsh,playing in his third competitive tournament after the state selections last year and the recently concluded RKG Snooker Masters. “I came close to qualifying for the RKG Masters main draw after winning three rounds and losing in the semi-finals.”

Sparsh also will soon train with Yasin Merchant. “I will definitely improve with Yasin Sir. It will be a different experience and I will be better prepared to play the big tournaments,” he said.

Meanwhile,Priyank Jaiswal,Prateek Jain and Anurag Giri,all of MP,Raj Khandwala of CCI,Zeeshan Siddiqui of Khar Gymkhana and Rohan Sakalkar of PYC Hindu Gymkhana,Pune were the other qualifiers to advance to the main draw that starts on Thursday.

Results

Final qualifying Rd: Priyank Jaiswal (MP) bt Sanchit Gemavat (MCF) 2-0; Raj Khandwala (CCI) bt Khushal Galaiya (Mumbai) 2-0; Shahbaz Khan (Elphinstone CC) bt Mohit Bhulchandani (Khar Gym) 2-1; Harsh Pherwani (Khar Gym) bt Kreishh Gurbaxani (Khar Gym) 2-0; Anurag Giri (MP) bt Sahil Gadiya (Pune) 2-1; Zeeshan Siddiqui (Khar Gym) bt Rohit Jadhav (Nashik) 2-1; Rohan Sakalkar (PYC,Pune) bt Abhishek Bajaj (NSCI) 2-1; Prateek Jain (MP) bt Samay Wadhwan (PJ Hindu Gym) 2-0; 1st Rd: Raj Khandwala (CCI) bt Mohit Lalwani (Khar Gym) 2-1; Khushal Galaiya (Mumbai) bt Rayaan Razmi (Elphinstone CC) 2-1; Shahbaz Khan (Elphinstone CC) bt Sparsh Pherwani (Khar Gym) 2-0,Mohit Bhulchandani (Khar Gym) bt Rushank Masand (JVPG) 2-1,Sanchit Gemavat (MCF) bt Rishad Bharda (Elphinstone CC) 2-0,Priyank Jaiswal (MP) bt Tehkum Alim (Radio Club) 2-0; Kreishh Gurbaxani (Khar Gym) bt Hasnain Ajani (Mumbai) 2-1; Harsh Pherwani (Khar Gym) bt Umesh Barve (CRMI) 2-0; Anurag Giri (MP) bt Siddharth Shah (Elphinstone CC) 2-1; Sahil Gadiya (Pune) bt Rushabh Rathod (Mumbai) 2-0; Rohan Sakalkar (PYC,Pune) bt Hardik Vyas (Elphinstone CC) 2-0; Abhishek Bajaj (NSCI) bt Meherzad Bhagwagar (Ahmd) 2-1; Zeeshan Siddiqui (Khar Gym) bt Maulik Shah (Mulund) 2-1; Rohit Jadhav (Nashik) bt Krishna Saraf (JVPG) 2-1; Samay Wadhwan (PJ Hindu Gym) bt Miraj Doshi (Mumbai) 2-0; Prateek Jain (MP) bt Arpit Shah (Mumbai) 2-0.