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.
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.
{{/usCountry}}"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.
{{/usCountry}}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.