Advani to compete in billiards at Doha

Snooker's loss is billiards' gain as Pankaj Advani, the only Indian to have won world titles in both cue sports.

Snooker's loss is billiards' gain as Pankaj Advani, the only Indian to have won world titles in both cue sports, decided to compete in the three-ball game at the Doha Asian Games in December.

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The Billiards and Snooker Federation of India had put in place a 'one man-one discipline' rule, which was opposed by several of the country's top players, including Advani.

They had said that such a stipulation would limit India's medal haul, as the country has a rich talent pool in both sports, but BSFI stood firm.

The 21-year-old, this year's Khel Ratna awardee, had till today to take a decision, and after much deliberation, reached the "most difficult choice of my playing career."

"I am anguished that I had to make a choice between the two disciplines. As I have repeatedly said, the entire concept of one man-one discipline defies logic and will definitely hamper India's medal chances at the Asian Games," Advani told PTI.

"Many top-ranked players have finished in the top two spots in multi-disciplines and have had to make the same heart-wrenching decision that I have had to make," he said.

Though Advani will only take part in billiards, he assured that he will try his utmost to win a medal for India.

"This has been the most difficult choice of my playing career. It was a call between my head, which said snooker and my heart, which said billiards. This time I went with my heart," he added.

Advani had won the world snooker title in 2003 before winning the world title in billiards last year.