World Snooker Championships: Pankaj Advani to lead India in Indore

Pankaj Advani will lead India’s 22-player contingent at the IBSF World Snooker Championships at Yeshwant Club in Indore from November 12 to 21.

The three-time champion is among eight Indian men with direct entry to Stage 2. The other players are Md. Hussain Khan, Brijesh Damani, Manan Chandra, Aditya Mehta, Ketan Chawla, Sourav Kothari and Malkeet Singh.

Former world 6-red snooker champions Laxman Rawat and Kamal Chawla are among seven players who will begin in Stage 1. Rayaan Razmi, Dhvajj Haria, Anuraag Giri, Piyush Khushwah and Hrithik Jain are also in the qualifying group. The top eight players from two qualifying events will progress.

Anupama Ramachandran, the reigning women’s champion, leads the seven-player women’s squad. Amee Kamani, Keerthana Pandian, Ishika Shah, Snenthra Babu, R Umadevi and Shruthi L are also selected. Ashok Shandilya is the coach.

The Indore tournament is the third and final major event hosted by the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India during its centenary celebrations.