Advani aims to turn professional

Even as Mumbai called it a night on Diwali and curious onlookers wondered what the fuss was all about, India’s newest world champion Pa...

Even as Mumbai called it a night on Diwali and curious onlookers wondered what the fuss was all about, India’s newest world champion Pankaj Advani touched down to a hero’s welcome at the Sahar International Airport in the wee hours of Monday.

After the customary garlanding and photo-ops, the youngster settled down to talk to the media. Advani said the world amateur snooker title that he won at Jiagmen (China) on Saturday was the first step before he turned a professional.

Pankaj Advani is greeted by Faye Ferreira, wife of Michael Ferreira, on Sunday night. Express photo by A Srinivas

“It’s a different level on the professional circuit,” he said. “It will take me at least two more years to hone my skills and be able to last out on the circuit.”

The 19-year-old, who is the youngest ever Asian champion, waxed eloquent on his Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) sponsored sojourn in the United Kingdom where he played against professionals, including world champion Peter Ebdon in Wales, saying that the ‘‘thrashing I received there held me in good stead in China.

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“That tour helped me realise the importance of stamina. We were playing for 7-8 hours a day and playing up to 21 frames in a match helped me a lot.”

Advani now plans to return to the UK whenever he can (sponsor-willing) to finetune his plans of turning a pro. “Hopefully, this title will make getting sponsors easier,” he said.

Advani attributed his success to personal coach and former national champion Arvind Savur, who has been coaching him since the time Pankaj was 11. Speaking to The Indian Express from Bangalore, Savur insisted that Pankaj needed to turn professional in the next three to six months.