Doherty - India Can Be Snooker’s Next China

Former World Champion Ken Doherty believes that snooker has the potential to grow in India to the same extent that it has done in China in recent years.

Irishman Doherty will be heading to New Delhi next week for the tournament which runs from October 14 to 18. It’s the first ever world ranking event in India.

"Hopefully this is the first of many tournaments we will have there," said 1997 Crucible king Doherty. "India is where snooker was invented so it’s high time that we went back there with a professional event."

"I really think that our sport can be successful there in the same way that is has in China. Ten years ago we didn't have any tournaments in China, and now we’ve got nine there this season. We have a couple of very good Indian players on our tour now in Pankaj Advani and Aditya Mehta, and they can be role models in the same way that Ding Junhui has been for the Chinese. They can inspire a new generation of young Indian players."

Doherty has experience of playing in India - he competed in the 1987 World Amateur Championship in Bangalore and also took part in an invitation event in New Delhi in 1997. The Dubliner has another connection to the country as his wife Sarah has family in Southern India.

" I'll be hoping for a bit of local support because of that ! " joked Doherty, who plays his opening match against Mike Dunn on Tuesday October 15. " I'll also have the Irish Ambassador and some of his colleagues coming to watch me play so I'll have plenty of encouragement."

"I'm really looking forward to this tournament and seeing more of India. My form hasn't been great so far this season but I feel as if I could have a good run in this one."

The £300,000 tournament at the Le Meridian Hotel in New Delhi will see 64 professional players bidding for the title, including the likes of John Higgins, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Ding Junhui.

Mumbai :: 26 September 2013