Chennai, Aug 12 (FN Agency) Two young and highly talented cueists–trainees of Chennai-based Saleem Snooker Academy (SSA)–are heading for Romania for the World Snooker Championship to be held from August 15. The International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) is conducting the U 16, U 18 and U 21 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania from Monday. The two SSA trainees–Anupama Ramachandran and Laxmi Narayanan–who have been practicing hard with multiple time Tamil Nadu Champion and former India No.3 S.A. Saleem at the SSA, have been have been selected to represent India in the World Championship. Anupama Ramachandran is also eligible to represent India in the Womens-6 Red World Championship to be held in Malaysia in October and the Womens-15 Red Snooker Championship at Turkey in November this year. Laxmi Narayanan, a 11th Class student of Velammal Vidhyashram, Mambakkam has been training under Saleem for the last 2 years and has finished India No 4 in U 16 Category. Since he has the age with him, it turned out to be a big opportunity to showcase his skills at the international arena, as he was eligible to represent India in the U-16, U-18 and U-21 categories.
He has been improving consistently and showing improved performance in State and National Level, Saleem said. At a press conference held at the SSA, ahead of his departure for New Delhi from where he would leave for Romania tomorrow with three other Indians selected to participate in the event, Narayanan exuded confidence of a good showing in the World Stage. ‘It’s a big opportunity and I hope to do well. I have been training hard under Saleem Sir ad has given some key tips on how to handle any pressure and I look forward to do well in Romania”, Naryananan, who is Tamil Nadu No 2 in U-21 Billiards, Tamil Nadu No 3 in U-18 Billiards, Tamil Nadu No.4 in U-18 Snooker and All India Top 16 in U 18 and U 21 Billiards, said. Anupama, who will leave for Romania one or two days later, was currently ranked Number one India after the Selection camp held in Bangalore in June. The winner of U-16 World Snooker Championship in 2017 and Bronze medal in-U 16 World Snooker Championship in 2018, Anupama said she has training well for the last two months at the SSA and expressed of a good showing in Romania.
Speaking about the two young cueists, Saleem said “They are highly talented. I have high hopes and that will come up a medal”. Anupama has won both the Snooker and Billiards State titles in U-18, U-21 and Women’s cCategory for the last 4 years. She has so far won 8 National titles in the Junior Category and is currently No-1 in U 21 in Both Billiards and Snooker. she has been in Top 4 in India in Women Snooker in the last 3 Nationals. She finished 2nd in the 2021 Nationals at Bhopal. Affiliated to The Tamil Nadu Billiards and Snooker Association, SSA was started by Saleem–a former International player in September 2020 having more than three decades of playing experience at the State, National and International level –to take forward his ambition of developing young players and help them win glory at higher levels. Saleem has also played in the Circuit in England and has entered the Limca Book of Records for making a Century break of 102 on his debut in the Nationals. Saleem has been Tamil Nadu Champion multiple times and 6 times India No 3. At the SSA, Saleem has been successful in coaching youngsters who have excelled at the national and international level like Dilip Kumar, Anupama Ramachandran, Mohitha R T, Laxmi Narayanan and Abdul Saif.