by Suman Gupta
Mumbai: The National Sports Club of India, Executive Managing Committee and the Baulkline Tournament Committee felicitated Yasin Merchant, a former two-time Asian Snooker and National Champion in recognition of his contributions towards mentoring and development of cueists from Mumbai. Yasin was presented with a memento at a function at the Prince Hall, NSCI earlier this week.
Speaking on the occasion, Yasin said, “I didn’t expect this. I am completely touched by this honour by NSCI. This warms my heart. I am felicitated because of my students. The coach is known only by the performance of his students. I am extremely proud of my students for not only what they have achieved as players but for the way they have conducted themselves and the discipline they have maintained. I practice with them for two hours and I am on the table only for half an hour. I am also honoured to play in this tournament conducted by the NSCI.”
Yasin mentioned that snooker has a bright future, but we have to have better equipment and we should invite foreigners to participate in our domestic tournament. “I think given the situation today, the number of tournaments happening and the number of people focused on taking up training now, I think snooker has a bright future. But, still there are lots of things that need to be done. We need to have equipment which is equivalent to international level, which we don’t have at the moment. In terms of tables, in terms of arenas, in terms of let’s say more academies,” the snooker maestro said.
“There are tournaments, more tournaments coming up, but we should have tournaments where the organizers call for foreign participants. Let them come and beat us. They should spend money and call a pro, or players who are still active in the circuit, let them (foreigners) come and teach us what snooker is all about. The level at which they are playing is far different from what is seen here. One or two of our India players are playing like that, but that is not enough. We have to create a base which is not happening with the same intensity that it should happen. But, if talk about the future, there is lot of hope, it may be slow in the making, but snooker is picking up and it is going to grow in the future,”
NSCI also recognized the achievements of Mumbai’s young talented players who have done exceedingly well in the National Championships, which concluded recently in December. Current India number 2 & 3 snooker players Sparsh Pherwani and Ishpreet Singh Chadha along with younger players Rayaan Razmi, Krieshh Gurbaxani and Sumehr Mago were also honoured.
