P A G E 2 6 S P O R T S T A R J A N U A R Y 1 2 2 0 0 8billiards amp snooker

He won his first Nationalbilliards title in 1982Twenty-five years laterin the National Cham-pionships in Hydera-bad he entered the

quarterfinals For Geet Sethi theeight-time world champion the ro-mance with cue sports continues

Sethirsquos game still has grace andclass and the 46-year-old veteranwas the star attraction in Hyderabaddespite the charge of the youthbrigade

ldquoNOTHING HAS REALLY CHANGED inthe game But there is a huge posi-tive shift in terms of the Govern-mentrsquos support to the sport nowThe sportrsquos elevation to Category Ais a major bonus for cueists in IndiardquoSethi said during an exclusive chat

I N T E R V I E W

THE ROMANCECONTINUES

Geet Sethi (above) sees a GREAT FUTURE for billiards and snooker in IndialdquoCue sports are no longer considered a leisure activity especially with ladies alsotaking it up seriouslyrdquo he says Over to V V SUBRAHMANYAM

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ATI

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S P O R T S T A R J A N U A R Y 1 2 2 0 0 8 P A G E 2 7

with SportstarldquoIn fact there is a shift in the

attitude towards sports in generalThe medallists are being rewardedby way of cash incentives and em-ployment opportunities have grownparticularly with the petroleum com-panies coming forward in a big wayForeign tours and coaching campsare being funded This is a significantdevelopmentrdquo he explained

What does he think of the futureof cue sports in India

ldquoWELL I SEE A DEFINITE SHIFT Cuesports are no longer considered aleisure activity especially with ladiesalso taking it up seriouslyrdquo Sethisaid

Talking of Indian cueists and howthey have evolved over the yearSethi said ldquoEach era has thrown upits heroes and their challengers Cur-rently I am really pleased that thereis real depth in talent in India Earlierthere used to be a huge gap betweenthe champions and the rest Nowthat is not so as far as the quality ofthe game is concerned

ldquoWith the administration of theBilliards and Snooker Federation ofIndia (BSFI) headed by Capt P V KMohan trying its best to bring worldclass cue sports to India thingsshould look up further And with theGovernment waiving customs dutyon table cushion and cues the sportshould be more affordable andshould spread to new areasrdquo

How does he feel playing today

ldquoTHE COMPETITION IS definitely get-ting tougher A string of bad resultsdo frustrate me more now I am notbecoming younger But I am happyto be playing at 46rdquo Sethi repliedwith a smile ldquoBut again the beautyof the sport is one great result andyou are back on your feet and lookingfor another long innings However Iam a contented man I have achievedwhatever I could and have no com-

plaintsrdquo said the champion cueistAs for the best moment of his careerSethi said ldquoArguably the greatestphase in my career has been the longrivalry with Mike Russell The tophonours have been shared by both ofus It was fantastic

ldquoI think I got a lot in terms ofrecognition from the governmentand the mediardquo he added

SETHI ADMITTED THAT THOUGH hegave up snooker in 1991 and startedplaying it again two years ago henever considered himself a topsnooker player at the internationallevel ldquoSomehow I really love bil-liards It is my first loverdquo he said

Sethi is a great admirer of worldchess champion ViswanathanAnand former badminton ace Pra-

kash Padukone and the tennis duo ofLeander Paes and Mahesh BhupathildquoThey brought results in their re-spective sports Sania Mirza is also apath breaker for we have never seenan Indian girl break into the Top-30in the worldrdquo he pointed outldquoAnand is a real genius Hats off tohim for his sheer consistency overthe last 20 years at the highest lev-elrdquo he added

Does Sethi have any plans ofstarting an academy

ldquoFrankly I am not sure whether Ican go down to the grassroots toteach someone I donrsquot think I havethe mindset to be a trainer Definite-ly I can be a mentor if someoneneeds my servicesrdquo he said

He also has no plans of joiningthe BSFI in any capacity ldquoI think the

BSFI is in the safe hands of CaptMohanrdquo

IS SETHI SENTIMENTALldquoNot really But the Asian Games

is one event which evoked lots ofemotions It was special for all of usrdquohe said Sethi wears the tri-colourbadge on his shirt even now duringcompetitions

HOW LONG DOES HE PLAN to continueplaying

ldquoIt depends on a variety of fac-tors Let us see how things shapeuprdquo Sethi replied

Geet Sethi is definitely one of themost loveable champions ever tograce Indian sport And there is nobetter sight in cue sport than whenGeet is on song

THE

HN

IDU

PH

OTO

LIB

RA

RY

rsquoArguably the greatestphase in my career hasbeen the long rivalrywith Mike Russell Thetop honours havebeen shared by bothof us It wasfantasticrsquo