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This is an archive article published on December 7, 1998

A big fall for Wattana

BANGKOK, Dec 6: For James Wattana, it was a nightmare. Hounded by the media which has projected him as a sporting hero of Thailand, the s...

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BANGKOK, Dec 6: For James Wattana, it was a nightmare. Hounded by the media which has projected him as a sporting hero of Thailand, the snooker ace was almost a nervous wreck in his match against a virtual non-entity from Hong Kong. The kind of big expectations that Wattana carried on his slender shoulders was evident from the manner in which the packed gathering reacted to each and every shot he played, either screaming in delight or sighing with disappointment.

One hasn8217;t seen anything quite like it in a snooker match, but it was more like the public following that Sachin Tendulkar enjoys back home, expecting a century from the maestro each time he walks out to bat.

Likewise, Wattana8217;s status in Thailand has to be seen to be believed. After his loss on Sunday, the dapper cueist sprinted no exaggeration here from the table to the safety of the changing room. The media, including a posse of cameramen, gave chase, jumping over the barriers, slithering under the barricades.

It was as if the Papparazzihad come alive, chasing poor Wattana and not the late Diana. Finally, when Wattana found himself cornered, he uttered a few words before suddenly ducking out of sight and the chase began all over again, till the player dived into a car and vanished leaving the mediapersons gasping. Surely, as Geet Sethi pointed out, no player can withstand the kind of pressure, especially playing on home grounds. 8221;I can only sympathise with Wattana,8221; said Geet.

 

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