Bnagalore: Two-time Asian champion Yasin Merchant, one of the best snooker talents ever to emerge from the country, has decided to call time on his career.
The 44-year-old, torn between his business commitments and his duty towards his ailing father, told TOI that the IBSF World Snooker Championship to be held in Bangalore next month would be his swansong.
"The Bangalore bash would be my last top competitive event," Merchant revealed to TOI over phone from Mumbai. "I had informed the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) about my decision to retire and to be included in the panel of coaches almost three months ago," he added.
The BSFI handed him a wildcard for the Worlds - one summit that he failed to scale in a career spanning over 30 years - to be held at the KSBA from Nov 28 to Dec 3.
"It was a painful decision," Merchant said about his decision to hang up his cue. "Whenever I get back to the table, I feel that I still have a few years left in me. But then, if I'm not able to give time for practice and not committed to the game I would rather not compete," the three-time National snooker champion said.
The 2002 Busan Asian Games doubles gold medallist said the desire to quit had been occupying his mind for a few years now and his father's poor health early this year hastened his decision.
"This thought has been on my mind for a couple of years now but luckily for me something or the other kept happening, a medal here and an Asian final there and so on. I think sometime early this year when my dad's health took a bad turn, I had made up my mind to quit," the Mumbaikar added.
Factbox
Plays: Right-handed
Residence: Mumbai
DOB: 17-12-1966
Turned Pro: 1992
Pro Stint: 6 years
Highest Break: 142
Asian Snooker Titles: 2 (1989, 2001)
Other Titles:
Asian Games: Double Gold Medal (2002), Team silver medal (2010), Team bronze medal (2006).
Asian Indoor Games: Team bronze medal (2007)
TOI