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
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