IBSF world under-21 snooker championship to commence from Aug 22

Pune, Aug 14 (UNI) The International Billiards&Snooker Federation (IBSF) 'World Under-21 Snooker Championship 2007' will be held at the Bogmallo Beach Resort in Goa from August 22 to 31 under the aegis of the Billiards&Snooker Federation of India.

Speaking to reporters here today, R Vasudevan managing director of Vascon Engineers and Rajan Khinvsara, head honcho of Manisha Constructions and vice president of The Billiards&Snooker Association of Maharashtra, said boys and girls from 25 countries have evinced interest in the championship. India, the host nation, will field a contingent of 8 boys and 4 girls in the draw of 66 and 8 respectively.

The countries that have confirmed their participation include Australia, Belgium, Bahrain, Egypt, Emirates, England, India, Latvia, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Poland, Qatar, Republic of China, Republic of Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sweden, Syria, Scotland, Thailand, Khazakistan, Iran and Wales, they said.

The female participants include one each from New Zealand and China, two from Iran and four from India.

The Indian boys' team will be led by current Junior National Snooker Champion Rishabh Pandya and includes Shravan Mohta, Shivam Arora, Younis Kuchey, Shahbaaz Adil Khan, Balaji Reddy, Ajay Bhushan and Pushpinder Singh. The Indian girls team includes Arantxa Sanchis, Keerat Bhandaal, Lavanya Bhaskaran and Akanksha Singh, the informed.

The prize money at stake is 12,000 US Dollars, with USD 4,000 for the winner among boys and USD 2,000 among the girls.

Khinvsara said the tournament will be dedicated to late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who during his eventful life contributed immensely towards development and progress of sports in the country.

VASCON Engineers and Manisha Constructions are the chief sponsors of this prestigious international event.

India's Pride the effervescent Michael Ferreira, the current President of the BSAM who is overlooking the arrangements, is confident that the exotic venue and elaborate conduct of the tournament would give a fillip to this event and set an example for the future.

The Tournament coordinators are Derek Sippy, BSAM joint secretary Devendra Joshi and Salil Deshpande, a well-known personality on the Pune circuit and member of the Tournament Committee.

Other members include former twice Asian Snooker Champion Yasin Merchant and BSAM honorary treasurer Ajay Rastogi.

UNI