State meet encourages young cueists

The 15th State Billiards and Snooker Championship, offering youngsters to make their mark, is all set to commence under the auspices of Billiards and Snooker Association of Orissa at Cuesport Academy in Bhubaneswar tomorrow. The fortnight-long championship will feature competition in three categories (sub-junior, junior and senior) each for billiards and snooker. Sub-junior category has been included for the first time to encourage youngsters. Kunal Agarwal will start as defending champion in both junior and senior billiards. In senior snooker, last year’s champion Siddharth Sen has been given the top billing. Altogether 62 entries have been received for the state meet. Top two finishers in each of the six categories will be eligible to represent the state in the National Billiards and Snooker Championship to be held at Agra from September 14 to October 4. Photo caption: India spinner Pragyan Ojha is felicitated by a social organisation in Bhubaneswar on July 25, 2009.