Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji (RS)

Panaji, Aug 23: India expects to fair better this time despite its major players not in the fray for the International Under-21 Snooker Championship 2007 which is underway in Goa.

“Indian players are good. They can reach up to pre-quarter finals,’’ Devendra Joshi, joint secretary, billiards and snookers association of Maharashtra, stated.

The 10-day-long international championship has already begun in Goa since Tuesday August 21 in a starred hotel in the port town of Vasco in South Goa.

The eight-member Indian team, which will put up a major fight against its competitors from 25 countries, has recently undergone a special training at Singapore.

“Indian players are talente. We have to see how they fair after their training in Singapore,’’ Joshi said.

The Indian prospects, however, seems to be doubtful with the exit of national champions like Pankaj Advani, Saurabh Kothari and Aditya Mehta. “These players have risen to above 21 level and they are now playing in seniors,’’ he said.

The Indian team managers are not sure whether the Indian team will be able to get into the finals. “We are not sure about the progression further post pre-quarter final as they have to compete with the strong teams like China, England, Netherlands and Wales,’’ Joshi commented.

Titled “Vascon-Manisha IBSF world Under-21 Snooker Championship 2007’’, the event has a separate title for the women, which is happening for the first time in the snooker history.

“We are happy for this decision of the organizers. Now we can compete with the girls alone,’’ Parsan Keynezhad, lady Iranian player, who is participating in the event, stated.

The Iranian team will be playing against women teams from China, Hong Kong, New Zealand and India.