Cue Sports India ...

 

Aditya Mehta speaks to Cue Sports India after returning from Shillong

 

Aditya Mehta leads the young brigade of snooker players who are giving the seniors a run for their money. India No 2  and 2006 Asian Games snooker team bronze medalist  he had a poor year in 2007 losing at pre-quarter-final stage of the Nationals to Pankaj Advani. The same Aditya last week beat Pankaj 4-0 with break of 124 at the trials in Shillong to qualify for the Asians. The Indian Oil player said  he was in dream touch playing the best snooker of his career.


Excerpts from the interview:

Shillong must have been a dream.


Indeed,  it was a great week at the Asian trials there. I played flawless snooker. I don’t remember making a single mistake, don’t remember better play from me.

 

Did the turnaround start with the PSCB event in  which you were third?


The PSCB event was a god one I did well without practice. Then came a slump with a poor show at the Doubles at Islam Gymkhana when I partnered Geet Sethi.

What made the difference  at Shillong?


From the day I landed, from the first frame of practice to the last, I was very confident. I like the surroundings and the tables and the result was there.


Why did you take a break last year?


After I didn’t qualify for international tournaments I took a  break and concentrated on other things like my family business.

You have trained at the World  academy at Sheffield  from time to time, will you go back there?


Before the Asians and the Worlds I plan to do that.

What’s the advantage ?


Match practice against the best players of the world. Making mistakes against them is costly, you automatically stop making those mistakes. It makes your game better.

India’s snooker field is top-class with half a dozen national champs still around, so staying at the top will be tough?


It’s never easy to stay at the top. I will be happy to stay and consistent and do that.

Who has been guiding you?


Just me.

 

Mumbai - India :: 07 March 2008

 

 

Copyright © 2006 Cue Sports India
Last modified: Monday July 27, 2009 21:57:46 +0530