Pankaj Arjan Advani was born on 24 July 1985 in Pune. Advani spent his initial years in Kuwait before moving to Bangalore. He received his education at the Frank Anthony Public School, Bangalore and completed his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Mahaveer Jain College, Bangalore. He received training in snooker from former national Snooker champion Arvind Savur. Mr. Savur, the father of modern snooker, promised the family that he would make Pankaj a world champion, but he too was pleasantly surprised by what was to come. Pankaj went on to complete his Bachelor Degree in Commerce with a 1st Class at SBM Jain College, Bangalore. He was only 6 months into college when he won the Men’s World Snooker Championship in China at the age of 18. This was the first of his 7 world titles.
But how did Pankaj begin his foray into the world of cue sport? He did it at the age of ten, courtesy his brother Shree. He would accompany Shree to the snooker parlor close to their house every day after school. For a few weeks, he just watched Shree play with his friends. Then one day he begged to be allowed to play. On his very first attempt, he pocketed the red ball and then on, he was hooked to the game. The following year, he won his first State title by beating his brother-cum-mentor in the finals.
During his first media interaction ever, Pankaj, on being asked what he wanted to become when he grew up, replied, “A businessman.” Then, as an afterthought, added, “I would also like to be a world champion.” Innocent words that became reality in less than 8 years!
Pankaj Advani showed promise and talent from a young age. He has made a mark for himself by capturing three world titles at only 19 years old. Advani made his debut at the Asian Billiards Championship 2002, held at Bangalore where he finished as a finalist.. At the tender age of 18, Pankaj won his first World Title in 2003. From there, Pankaj’s career has seen many firsts. He is the only person in the history of the game to have won both the billiards and snooker IBSF world titles as well as the World Professional Billiards Championship. He was the first person ever to win a “Grand Double” (both the points and time formats in the same year) at the IBSF World Billiards Championships 2005 in Malta. Pankaj repeated the same feat at the 2008 Championships held in Bangalore.
He is also the youngest person to have won the IBSF titles in both Billiards & Snooker for a record six times. Pankaj Advani also remains the only person to have won all 5 Billiards tournaments in a season, a feat he achieved by winning the Junior National Championship, Senior National Championship, Asian Billiards Championship, World Billiards Championship (point format) and World Billiards Championship (time format).Pankaj Advani won the World Professional Billiards title (WPBSA) held at Leeds in 2009. He became the first person in the world to win IBSF Snooker and Billiards World Titles along with the WPBSA Billiards World Title. No one in the history of the sport has accomplished this phenomenal feat. In April 2012, Advani won the Asian Billiards Championship in Goa, India to become the first person in the history of the sport to win 5 Asian Titles.
It has been said that Pankaj Advani is the best thing to have happened to Indian billiards after the legendary Geet Sethi.
But how did Pankaj begin his foray into the world of cue sport? He did it at the age of ten, courtesy his brother Shree. He would accompany Shree to the snooker parlor close to their house every day after school. For a few weeks, he just watched Shree play with his friends. Then one day he begged to be allowed to play. On his very first attempt, he pocketed the red ball and then on, he was hooked to the game. The following year, he won his first State title by beating his brother-cum-mentor in the finals.
During his first media interaction ever, Pankaj, on being asked what he wanted to become when he grew up, replied, “A businessman.” Then, as an afterthought, added, “I would also like to be a world champion.” Innocent words that became reality in less than 8 years!
Pankaj Advani showed promise and talent from a young age. He has made a mark for himself by capturing three world titles at only 19 years old. Advani made his debut at the Asian Billiards Championship 2002, held at Bangalore where he finished as a finalist.. At the tender age of 18, Pankaj won his first World Title in 2003. From there, Pankaj’s career has seen many firsts. He is the only person in the history of the game to have won both the billiards and snooker IBSF world titles as well as the World Professional Billiards Championship. He was the first person ever to win a “Grand Double” (both the points and time formats in the same year) at the IBSF World Billiards Championships 2005 in Malta. Pankaj repeated the same feat at the 2008 Championships held in Bangalore.
He is also the youngest person to have won the IBSF titles in both Billiards & Snooker for a record six times. Pankaj Advani also remains the only person to have won all 5 Billiards tournaments in a season, a feat he achieved by winning the Junior National Championship, Senior National Championship, Asian Billiards Championship, World Billiards Championship (point format) and World Billiards Championship (time format).Pankaj Advani won the World Professional Billiards title (WPBSA) held at Leeds in 2009. He became the first person in the world to win IBSF Snooker and Billiards World Titles along with the WPBSA Billiards World Title. No one in the history of the sport has accomplished this phenomenal feat. In April 2012, Advani won the Asian Billiards Championship in Goa, India to become the first person in the history of the sport to win 5 Asian Titles.
It has been said that Pankaj Advani is the best thing to have happened to Indian billiards after the legendary Geet Sethi.
Titles
World Titles (7)
WPBSA World Billiards Champion 2009
IBSF World Billiards Champion (Time Format) (3) 2008, 2007, 2005
IBSF World Billiards Champion (Points Format) (2) 2008, 2005
IBSF World Snooker Champion 2003
Asian Games (2)
Gold Medal - Guangzhou - English Billiards (Singles Event) 2010
Gold Medal - Doha - English Billiards (Singles Event) 2006
Australian Open (1)
Australian Open Billiards Champion 2008
Asian Titles (5)
Asian Billiards Champion (5) 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2005
National Titles (23)
Senior Billiards (6) 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005
Senior Snooker (5) 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2003
Senior 6-Red Snooker 2010
Junior Billiards (7) 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
Junior Snooker (4) 2005, 2003, 1998, 1997
WPBSA World Billiards Champion 2009
IBSF World Billiards Champion (Time Format) (3) 2008, 2007, 2005
IBSF World Billiards Champion (Points Format) (2) 2008, 2005
IBSF World Snooker Champion 2003
Asian Games (2)
Gold Medal - Guangzhou - English Billiards (Singles Event) 2010
Gold Medal - Doha - English Billiards (Singles Event) 2006
Australian Open (1)
Australian Open Billiards Champion 2008
Asian Titles (5)
Asian Billiards Champion (5) 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2005
National Titles (23)
Senior Billiards (6) 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005
Senior Snooker (5) 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2003
Senior 6-Red Snooker 2010
Junior Billiards (7) 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
Junior Snooker (4) 2005, 2003, 1998, 1997
Awards and Honours
- Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour, 2009
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honour, 2005-06
- Rajyotsava Award, Karnataka's highest civilian award, 2007.
- Karnataka's 'Kempegowda Award" in 2007.
- Vision of India's "International Indian" Award in 2005.
- Senior Sportsperson of the Year 2005
- The Sports Writers' Association of Bangalore's
- The Bangalore University ' Sportsperson of the Year, 2005
- The Hero India Sports Award (HISA) in 2004
- The Rajeev Gandhi Award in 2004
- The Arjuna Award in 2004
- The Indo-American Young Achiever's Award - 2003
- The Sports Star Sportsperson of the Year 2003.
References: Wikipedia; pankajadvani.com
Photos Courtesy: Google Images
Photos Courtesy: Google Images