The Sports Authority of India (SAI) provided financial assistance to support the participation of athletes in the IBSF World Men's Billiards Championship held in Ireland, backing the 2026 World Champion Sourav Kothari, multiple-time world champion Pankaj Advani, and coach Ashok Shandilya.
The championship concluded on April 29, with the Indian trio competing due to government funding under the Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs) scheme, according to an official release.
SAI approved approximately Rs 6.46 lakh to the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) to cover travel, boarding, lodging, and other competition-related expenses for the team, the release stated.
On April 29 in Carlow, Ireland, Sourav Kothari successfully defended his 2026 IBSF World Billiards Championship title, defeating Pankaj Advani in an all-Indian final. Overcoming significant deficits and achieving a remarkable 485 break, Kothari demonstrated determination and skill throughout the match.
During a press conference on Thursday, Kothari spoke candidly about his emotional challenges and personal loss, describing how he won a national title shortly after his father’s death. “I don’t think I’ve been mentally tough, honestly. I don’t know really. It’s a huge question mark as to how I’ve managed to win,” he said.
Kothari recalled receiving the news of his father’s passing while in Kolkata, isolating himself in his room where he broke down. “I won a national title seven days after dad passed away. And I was sitting in my room in Calcutta, and I locked myself, and I was weeping,” he stated.
He credited encouragement from the BSFI Secretary and his mother for his decision to continue competing despite the grief. “I get a call from the BSFI Secretary saying that, you know, your father would have liked you to come and play… My mom egged me on, she said please go and play. And I played, and I won the national title,” Kothari added.
Kothari reflected on his mental state, saying, “I don’t think I’m mentally really tough. I think I’ve just become very numb to everything, and I feel like I’ve been dealt an unfair hand when it comes to that particular aspect. I’m carrying on because it is just his thoughts and because he just wanted to see me play so well, that was his only happiness.”
Looking ahead, Kothari confirmed he will participate in upcoming snooker events in India and prepare for the World Snooker Championship, which is likely to be held in Indore. “There are a lot of snooker events now in India… but international events, I will be really preparing hard for the World Snooker Championship,” he said.