Advani, Chinappa win 'Sportstar' awards

The new prince of the green baize, Pankaj Advani of Bangalore, and the queen of Indian squash, Joshna Chinappa of Chennai, were adjudged "Sportsperson of the year" and "Young Achiever of the Year" by Sportstar.

Announcing the sports magazine's awards in Chennai on Saturday, N Ram, Editor-in-chief of The Hindu said Pankaj Advani, who won the World Amateur Snooker Championship, will receive a cash award of Rs 100,000 and a citation, while Chinappa, winner of three squash titles including the British Open, would receive Rs 50,000.

The 18-year old, Advani, a B.Com first year student of Sri Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain College in Bangalore, became the third youngest player in World snooker history and only the second Indian after the late Ompraksh Bharadwaj Agarwal (in 1984) to win the world title.

In Billiards, Wilson Jones (1958 and 1964), Michael Ferreira (1977, 1981, 1983), Manoj Kothari (1990), Geet Sethi (1985, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998 and 2001) are the other world champions from India.

Advani won the coveted crown on his maiden appearance in the World Championship at China this year. He picked up a cue when he was barely 10, and by 11 compiled his first century

break in billiards. A few days short of his 12th birthday, he annexed the Karnataka State Junior crown in billiards and snooker.

Advani went on to win many titles and equalled Geet Sethi's record of winning three national titles - the junior billiards, junior and senior snooker titles in a single national championship.

In July this year, Advani finished fifth in the World Junior-21 Snooker Championship in Taupo, New Zealand.

Chinappa had no equals in her age group and soon proved she and the country were a force to reckon with in Asia.

She was selected for the coveted Hasan Musa award by the Asian Squash Federation for her stupendous performance in the Asian Junior Championships at Islamabad in February last.

She also annexed the singles title at the 11th edition of the Asian Championship in Islamabad, defeating compatriot Vaidehi Reddy 5-9, 9-7, 9-4, 9-6.

The event saw the Indian contingent protesting against the National anthem not being played during the prize distribution ceremony.

The 11th standard student was also the spearhead of the Indian trio, comprising herself,

Vaidehi Reddy and Alisa Mashruwala - which won the team title for India at the event with a clear 3-0 thrashing of strong contender Malaysia.