IO-2013 ...

 

 

Ebdon Impressed By Indian Pros

 

 

Peter Ebdon is excited by the prospect of snooker’s first ever ranking event in India and relishes the prospect of taking on home favourite Aditya Mehta in the first round.

 

The £300,000 Indian Open runs from October 14 to 18 at the Le' Meridian Hotel in New Delhi and will see 64 professional players bidding for the title, including the likes of John Higgins, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Ding Junhui.

 

Former World and UK champion Ebdon has drawn India's 27-year-old Mehta, who has already tasted success this season by winning the gold medal at the World Games in Colombia in August.

 

"I was really pleased for Aditya when he won Gold because he has been a great ambassador for Indian snooker," said 2002 Crucible king Ebdon. "I have practised with him in the past and I know how talented a player he is. I think he will start favourite in our match in New Delhi and it will be a nice start for him if he can give a former World Champion a battering in front of his home crowd !

 

"Pankaj Advani has also been a great addition to our tour. He is a really nice lad and I know how good he is because he's beaten me a couple of times. His success in the billiards world is phenomenal and the way he has adjusted to snooker and shown so much tactical awareness is remarkable."

 

Ebdon played in an invitation event in Delhi back in 1992, losing in the semi-finals to eventual winner Steve Davis. The 43-year-old is looking forward to returning to India although he admits uncertainty over his current form.

 

"It's exciting for snooker to have a ranking event in India for the first time," said Ebdon. "I have got a lot of work to do on my game and, at the moment, any match I win is a bonus. I took some time off at the start of the season to spend a month with my kids and then some more time on holiday in Europe with my wife. I missed a couple of the European Tour events and I am still getting my game back."

 

"The calendar is so full now that it’s important to take a break at some point and hopefully I can come on strong now for the big tournaments. I’m not happy being ranked in the low 20s. I want to be in the top 16 and I still consider myself a potential tournament winner."

 

Mumbai :: 26 September 2013

 

 

 

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Last modified: Tuesday October 01, 2013 18:23:29 +0530