Mom reveals Popeye secret after Pankaj completes double

Devendra Joshi was at the receiving end in the final as Advani was like a Palak-fuelled Popeye. He won 2368-2022, with two double-century breaks and one match-winning stay on table worth 327 points.

Along with the 8216;P8217; factor, other interesting trivia pours out as those close to the player open up. The Advanis are a close-knit family of three and have endured the pain of an untimely death. Pankaj and his elder brother Sree spent their early days in Kuwait, where their father had a garment business. The Gulf War in 1990 changed things. The family returned to India and soon tragedy stuck. After a brief illness, Pankaj8217;s father died and that left Kajal alone in bringing up two sons.

8220;I lost my husband when Pankaj was just six years old. I was very concerned raising him well, but thanks to billiards Pankaj became so mature even at the tender age of 10 that he never troubled me in his growing years,8221; says Kajal. Brother Sree speaks about Pankaj8217;s early brush with cue sports and how he was instantly hooked to the game. After attending a summer camp at the Karnataka State Billiards Association, Pankaj changed forever. 8220;We had a carrom board at home and we used it as a billiards table. Chopsticks were the cues and marbles were the balls,8221; says Sree.

Watching her kids8217; new-found interest in the sport, Kajal got them a mini-billiards table. But Pankaj had mixed emotions on seeing it. 8220;He hugged me and had tears in his eyes. He asked me why I spent 600 rupees for him,8221; says Kajal. If Pankaj comes across as a man with unflappable temperament, this trait happens to run in his family. Kajal doesn8217;t practice any religion but is spiritual and likes to spend time alone. Brother Sree is a life-skills trainer and conducts sessions on the ways to enjoy a good life. The brothers are more friends than siblings. 8220;I always tell Pankaj to date girls but somehow he8217;s always on the table,8221; jokes Sree.

But lately things have been changing as mother Kajal says her jaw dropped when she saw Pankaj dancing at a recent party. 8220;He surprised me. He had never danced before in front of me,8221; she says. Predictably, Kajal brings up how her son is the most eligible bachelor on the circuit. 8220;Once in jest Pankaj told me that he would like to marry someone like Catharine Zeta Jones. I asked him if would prefer a good-looking wife or a companion for me at home. He said 8216;both8217;,8221; she says. 8220;We aren8217;t hyper about each other,8221; she adds hastily. 8220;When Pankaj is home, I8217;m happy but I8217;m not paranoid when he is not around.8221;

Doesn8217;t she get daily calls when Pankaj is playing abroad? 8220;No he doesn8217;t carry a phone when he is playing around. It distracts him,8221; says the mother. No phone? So that8217;s one 8216;P8217; that Pankaj avoids.