Chennai, Aug 26 (Representative) Giving yet another proof of her rising stature, promising Tamil Nadu cueist Anbuama Ramachandran has won thesilver medal in the Under-21 World Snooker Championship held atBucharest in Romania. After a fine performance in the earlier stages, Anupama, a traineeof the S.A.Saleem Snooker Academy in the city, lost to Thailand’s Panchaya Channoi 1-4 in the summit clash, ensuring a silver medalfor India.It turned out to be a double podium finish for India as another upcomingtalent Keerthana Pandian won the bronze in the same section in theevent organised by the IBSF.
Anupama, who had earlier won the Under-16 World title in 2017 and Bronze medal in-U 16 World Snooker Championship in 2018, wasaccorded a rousing reception on her arrival at the airport here today. Anupama, who have been practicing hard with multiple time Tamil NaduChampion and former India No.3 S.A.Saleem at the SSA, is also eligibleto represent India in the Women’s-6 Red World Championship to be heldin Malaysia in October and the Women’s-15 Red Snooker Championshipat Turkey in November this year. She has been currently ranked Number one in India after the Selectioncamp held in Bangalore in June.
By winning the Silver at Bucharest, Anupama earned the distinction ofbecoming the first cueist from Tamil Nadu to win a medal in the Worldevent. Talking to reporters, Anupama, who has eight National junior titles toher credit, said she was happy to win the silver as the competition waschallenging.She said she had to face strong Thailand cueists both in the semifinaland in the Final. “I gave my best in the summit clash, but PanchayaChannoi played very well and won the Gold”, she added. She said “though the Central and State governments are helping inpromoting the green baize game, we need more support, so that manyyoungsters like me will take to the sport and bring laurels for the country”.
While stressing the need that sponsors should come forward and supportthe sport, Anupama also suggested that snooker should be introduced asa sport as part of school and college curriculum, which will lead to unearthingmore talents. The Tamil Nadu government supporting the sportspersons winning laurels inNational and International events by presenting cash awards, was encouragingand will enable more youngsters to develop a career in sports, Anupama said. Speaking about Anupama’s silver medal winning performance, Saleem, whowas also present at the airport, said it was yet another proof of her risingstature. “Anupama is made of sterner stuff and I expect her to win many more laurelsin future”, he added.