Cue Sports in India - a vision from the Stand !!!

Every Nationals, on the prize distribution day lofty promises are made only to be broken before the cueists board their flights or trains and head home. The podium filled with eminent officials who form the backbone of the cueing fraternity and are the people who guide the destinies of the cueists, eloquently display their love for the game and pledge to do their all for the development of the sport in the country. The dinner that follows is even more vocal as other eminent personalities join in to create an illusion which is almost like magic to the beholders or to those within earshot who conjure up images of their future on the green baize. The illusion disappears thereafter only to appear once again at the next Nationals. And, yet there is hope in the young cueists who look forward to something materializing no matter how little it would be. Maybe they would see at least the tip of the illusion take shape.

Why does this happen in a country which boasts of a huge line up of cueists at the Nationals and at other events ? Is it flawed vision or no vision at all ?  Is the dream or the desire missing ? Is it a lack of commitment to the cause? Or is the management of cuesports in India lost at sea despite having a Captain at the helm ? What ails cue sports in India ? Whilst Geet Sethi shuttles between Success and Joy and Yasin muses, where are the Ma ( r ) kers ? The Policy ? Accreditation ? The Sponsors? The Coaches ? Yes, I can only see the players – appear and vanish from the scene – just like the illusion.

How I wish there were a blueprint for the development of the sport in India. Any takers ?

Until then, Pankaj, Manan, Geet, Yasin, Devendra, Ashok, Rupesh and Alok please continue doing the country proud. The Ninth is yet to arrive to form the Navratna. I hope I don’t have to say this next year and the next and the next and………… .the NEXT ? But then you are our silver lining even though you maybe turning grey.

Col. E.J. Sanchis

Mumbai - India :: 08 March 2008