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Yasin Merchant
fumes at being denied the
PADMA SHRI
Credit:
MID-DAY
Two words which
make snooker supremo Yasin Merchant seethe with anger are: Padma
Shri. The two-time Asian champion and Busan Asian Games gold
medalist is at his wits end as to why the Indian government has yet
to bestow him with this award.
"My achievements speak for itself. In 2001, it
was announced that I had been given the award but when the final
list was declared my name was strangely omitted," said the
exasperated Mumbaikar.
Former world
billiards champion Michael Ferreira had written in a column for MiD
DAY that it is fantastic news that Yasin has been awarded the Padma
Shri. But the government's volte face had left the green baize
expert stunned. "In 2004-05 once again my name
was doing the rounds but eventually I did not get the award. On
merit alone I should have received the award long ago," fumed
Yasin.
In Indian
snooker, Yasin's achievements are mind-boggling. He is the only
cueist to win the Asian snooker championship (1989, 2001), the only
Indian to be ranked in the top-60 on the World professional circuit,
and he famously won the doubles gold with Rafath Habib at the 2002
Busan Asian Games. Incidentally, that medal was India's first one at
that particular Games and he has also won the National title on
three occasions.
Read the full story
Credit:
MID-DAY
Mumbai - Friday
02 January 2010
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