Billiards, Snooker National Championship in B'lore from Jan 15

Bangalore, Jan 13 (UNI) Sports lovers in the city will get a rare opportunity to see cuiests of international fame in action as the 73rd Seniors, 31st Juniors, 15th Ladies and Second Sub-Juniors Billiards and Snooker National Championships gets underway here from January 15.

In all, 350 players, including Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee and Doha Asian Games gold medallist Pankaj Advani, defending champion Devendra Joshi (Snooker), Manan Chandra (Billiards), former World Snooker Champion Geet Sethi and Alok Kumar in the men's section, World eight pin Champion Chitra Magimairaj, Lavanya and Shreya Kothari in the women's category, would vie for the top honours.

While the senior events would be held in the Karnataka State Billiards Association (KSBA), Junior, Ladies and Sub-Junior events were scheduled to be held in the newly built court in Bowring Institute.

Briefing newspersons about the tournament here today, KSBA President S Balasubramaniam said that while Rs 50,000 each would be awarded to Billiards and Snooker Champions, the winners in Ladies and sub-Junior category would be richer by Rs 20,000.

UNI