World Billiards
Championship will be an exposure trip: Dhvaj Haria
Playing against the
likes of world champions and top ranked billiards players can be
challenging but promising young cueist Dhvaj Haria believes he won't
let pressure affect him at the upcoming World Billiards
Championship. The mega-event to be held at the Northern Snooker
Centre, Leeds from October 18-28 will be Dhvaj's maiden
international tournament. The Ahmedabad-based cueist was assured of
a slot reserved for a junior after he won the junior nationals title
along with sub-junior snooker and billiards crown.
"This will be the
first time I am representing India. I don't think I will be under
pressure as I see this an opportunity to learn and do well. It will
be an exposure trip for me," the 19-year-old said.
The talented youngster practices at the
Sports Club and learns the nuances of the game from his coach
Subhash Agrawal and former national champion and Executive Director
of Cue Sports India, Sonic Multani.
Multani, who has been advising Dhvaj on
cue ball control and other technical details, expressed satisfaction
with ward's progress. "It has been a steady
progress for him. I have been advising him on cue ball control and
on ways to get out of a tough situation. To expect him to win an
international title will take time but I have noticed a steady
growth in him."
He added the World Billiards
Championship; a unified effort from the IBSF and World Billiards
League will be a good training ground from him.
"He will be playing against top players and
that will give a lot of motivation and more importantly, ideas and
strategies."
Multani, who won the national billiards
title in 1995 and 1996 and the snooker crown in 1997, advised Dhvaj
to be observant. "He should focus on every
match and play frame by frame. He has to concentrate on picking
small things from the greats and their style of play."
On his part, Dhvaj added that he is
practicing harder with every passing day. "I
have increased my training time. I practice daily for six hours and
have installed a new table at home too for the same. I hope to do
well at the tournament and observe greats like Mike Russell, Pankaj
Advani go about their business."
Ahmedabad
:: 26
August 2012
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