Name of the sportsperson: Pankaj Advani
Discipline: Snooker, Billiards
Date of Birth: 24-07-1985
State: Pune, Bangalore
Achievements and Awards
• Padam Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honor, 2009.
• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honor, 2005-06
• Rajyotsava Award, Karnataka's highest civilian award, 2007.
• Karnataka's 'Kempegowda Award" in 2007.
• The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2006.
• Vision of India's "International Indian" Award in 2005.
• The Hero India sports Award (HISA) in 2004.
• The Indo-American young achiever’s Award-2004.
Facts about Pankaj Advani
• Pankaj made his debut at the Asian Billiards Championship 2002.
• He also won the IBSF World Billiards Championship in 2005 at Qawra, Malta.
• He repeated the same feat at the 2008 Championships held in Bangalore.
Profile:
Pankaj Advani was born on July 24, 1985 in Pune. Pankaj spent his initial years in Kuwait before moving to Bangalore. He received his education at theFrank Anthony Public School, Bangalore and completed his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Mahaveer Jain college, Bangalore.
He received training in snooker from former national Snooker champion Arvind Savur.
At the age of 10 his acumen for snooker came to the notice of Arvind Savur at the Karnataka State Billiards Association Hall. He won his first ever title at the age of 12 and went on to set several records at the state and national levels.
In the year 2000 he won his first Indian Junior Billiards Championship title and then went on to win it again in 2001 and 2003. In 2003 he won the India Junior Snooker Championship which made him the youngest National Snooker champion.
