What does a sportsperson need to achieve to be recognised asks Pankaj Advani

After protest by hockey players against ’step-motherly treatment’, World Billiards Champion Pankaj Advani on Thursday expressed displeasure at not being given ‘due recognition’ by the Karnataka government for his achievement in the sport.

“My question to the state government is what does a sportsperson need to achieve in order to be recognised,” he said after being felicitated by Karnataka State Billiards Association (KSBA) for winning the IBSF World Billiards Title in Singapore recently. The 22-year old Bangalorean’s remarks come a day after hockey players raised a banner of protest against the ’step-motherly’ treatment meted out to them by the government.

In a swift action, the state government on Thursday night announced Rs two lakh reward for four players and a coach of the Asia Cup winning hockey team.
“If their answer is a World Title - I have it, if it means winning an Asian Games Gold Medal - I have it, if it means winning the highest sports award in the country - I have that also”, Advani, winner of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2006, said. Indicating that he had kept mum for too long, Advani said he wanted an answer from the government soon. “It has been on my mind for the last four years since I started winning world titles. I have a right to know as a citizen of the state, when I will get my due,” he said.

Earlier, taking a swipe at the accolades and facilities extended only to cricket players, Advani said,”One must remember that in billiards and snooker we have won 24 world titles so far while the game which is played as a team, gave only two world cups.”

Agency