Didn’t have any expectations, says Kothari after defending World billiards title

Sourav Kothari on Thursday said the bubble of numbness around him, following the death of his father and former World champion Manoj Kothari in January, insulated him from pressure and helped him retain his IBSF World billiards title in Carlow, Ireland.

In a repeat of last year’s World championships final, Kothari defeated Pankaj Advani 1133-477 to defend his crown. Kothari, who was close to his father-cum-coach, described his achievement as ‘bittersweet.’

“I didn’t have any expectations. The world around me has suddenly become a little empty, I’ve just become numb. That probably helped me win this world title,” said Kothari at a virtual press conference, organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), on Thursday.

About his Carlow campaign, Kothari – who clinched the National title within weeks of his father’s demise – said, “It’s contrasting. Last year no one really threatened me. This year, in every match, starting from David Causier (757-498) in the quarterfinal, Dhvaj Haria (633-443) in the semis and (Advani in the) final, my opponents started with a bang. Luckily, I came from behind. In the final, Pankaj made a 167 break and I replied with a 485 break, which took me one hour and two minutes.”

The 41-year-old Kolkata cueist said even though he missed his daily routine of neck and back exercises, he managed to pull off the crucial break. He revealed that his decision to walk from the hotel to the venue, despite wearing leather shoes and nursing a dodgy left-foot, every time in the ‘crisp and pollution-free air’ of the countryside was also beneficial. “It was a good 20-minute walk. It helped me so much.”

Kothari hoped that cue sports would feature in the 2030 Commonwealth Games to be hosted by India. “We are back in the Asian Games in 2030. Our federation, the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI), is trying to get the sport into the 2030 Commonwealth Games. We’ve won multiple gold medals at the Asian Games. It will be great, not just for our sport but also for India’s medal tally, if we are included in the Commonwealth Games,” said Kothari.