It would require an entire book to list the number of achievements Pankaj Advani has accomplished in billiards and snooker. The 36 year old is a 24 time World Champion, 15 times winner of the IBSF World Billiards Championship, three times winner of the IBSF World Snooker Championship and is the only cueist to have won the Asian and World Championships in all formats of billiards and snooker. He has also been bestowed the Arjuna Award in 2004, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2006, Padma Shri in 2009 and Padma Bhushan in 2018 by the Government of India.
 
In this exclusive interview with SPOGO, The Prince of India – Pankaj Advani reflects upon his formative years and his journey, the role of Arvind Savur in his development, his most memorable achievements, facing and overcoming challenges in his career, advice to aspiring players, future goals and more!
 
Q 1) Tell us about your formative years and your journey towards becoming the poster boy of Indian snooker.
 
As a youngster, I was exposed to sports like badminton, cricket, table tennis and basketball. Our family was based in Kuwait but because of the Gulf War, we shifted to India! My older brother Shree used to play snooker in a small club near our home in Bangalore. I was fascinated with the coloured balls, the technique and rules of the sport just by watching him and his friends play. 
 
After 3 weeks of observing them, I finally tried my hand at it and in the first go, I pocketed the ball to my surprise and delight! I was very passionate right from the start. I attended summer coaching camps in the Karnataka State Billiards Association to hone my skills and compete with better players. I never knew how far I’d go but I knew I wanted to do something with the talent I had. My school, college and family supported me and that really helped in taking cue sports as a career. At age 18, I won my first World Title in China against a Pakistani player Md. Saleh in the final, a moment I’ll never forget. There was no looking back after that.  
 
Q 2) How important of a role did former national Snooker champion Arvind Savur play in your early snooker development? What are some of the valuable lessons you learnt from him?
 
He refused me initially because I was too short. When we eventually started working together, my game and level improved rapidly. I started winning titles at an early age and I guess the reason for winning consistently is because of Mr Savur’s contribution to my career. He never ever charged me a single penny because he wanted to create a World Champion and realize his dream through me. He was a semifinalist himself years ago. He’s a father figure, philosopher and guide to me. One of the most generous kind hearted people I’ve ever known.  
 
Q 3) You have a number of achievements in your illustrious career so far, which one do you consider the most special and why?
 
There are many highs, especially my World Championship Gold Medals. It is difficult to pick one out of them. I’ve always felt I wanted to do something different in cue sport. I managed to win both the Billiards and Snooker IBSF World Championships in Doha in 2017. 99.9 % of cueists specialize in either billiards or snooker. I believed I could do it in both and excel and win titles. The dual fear in 2017 was a record! One of my biggest achievements in my cue sports career.
 
Also read: My aim is to win gold for India at the 2022 Asian Games – Golfer Avani Prashanth
 
Q 4) You are also the first player to hold the world title and the continental title at the same time, how proud are you of that achievement?
 
The nature of snooker is unpredictable compared to billiards. To win both Asian and World Titles in Snooker and that too in the shortest format – 6 reds, is truly a special and wonderful feeling. Very difficult to repeat for me.

 
Q 5) Despite the immense success that you have accomplished, what are some of the challenges you have faced in your career and how did you overcome them?
 
As an athlete in India, you get support once you start performing and doing well.  Initially I remember my mother had to break an FD to send me to the UK for my first ever international competition. My father passed away when I was 6 years old. Those were tough times. I was also not taken seriously because of my height when I began my journey in cue sport. I only believed in one thing – let your performance do the talking. 
 
Q6) What would you want to say to young aspiring players, who look up to you and want to make it big on the world stage? Do you have any tips for them?
 
Be patient, nothing comes on a platter! Work towards your goals and be disciplined but always be open minded to learning something new everyday. I believe I still have so much to learn even after 20 years of competitive billiards and snooker! 
 
Q 7) Having achieved nearly everything there is to accomplish, what are the next steps in your career?
 
I love playing. I love competing and I love representing my country at the international stage. Currently, I am preparing for the IBSF World Snooker Championships to be held in Doha in March. I would love to see our great sport on television and for fans to understand it and appreciate what we do on the table.