Billiards and Snooker Federation of India to Nominate Pankaj Advani for Padma Bhushan

The Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) has proposed ace Indian cueist player Pankaj Advani's name for Padma Bhushan, the country's third highest civilian award, for his contribution to the sport.

"We have a proposal to nominate Pankaj Advani for Padma Bhushan," the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) Vice-President S Balasubramaniam told reporters here today on a day Advani announced quiting from professional snooker.

Advani is a winner of 10 world titles in billiards and snooker. In 2005, he set a world record by becoming the first player to complete a grand double by winning both the point and time formats in IBSF World Billiards Championship.

Advani completed a hat-trick of hat-tricks in 2012 by being the reigning world, Asian and national champion in billiards and became a snooker professional only in 2012. He also won the IBSF World 6-Red Snooker Championship in Sharm-El-Sheik, Egypt on debut.

He was conferred with the Arjuna Award in 2004, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2006 and Padma Shri in 2009.

Asked about the Arjuna Awards, Advani said the government should be flexible in increasing or decreasing the number of sports awardees based on the number of achievers in a year.

"In my personal opinion, if there are many achievers in a year, numbers can be increased and decreased according to number of achievers in a year. It should be little flexible, but again it is the government award...," he said.

On whether there was a marriage proposal round the corner for him, Advani said, "Not round the corner, but I will work towards it.

"By opting not to play professional snooker, I will definitely get time to find a life partner for myself. I don't think that had crossed my mind when I was in UK because I was so involved in the game that I became mechanical. I just did not make any friends," he added.

Asked if he enjoyed Pro Kabaddi format, Advani said it was short and exciting and wished it could be done with snooker.

"It's great that Indian sports are getting recognition. I enjoyed it, nice and short. We can also have really short duration in snooker to make it quick and exciting. I think the six-reds is exciting. I think it's a way to go because it is television-friendly among other things," he added.