Is there any progress made in billiards and snooker sport in Sri Lanka? Are the present day players of any standard locally and internationally? Does this sport attract spectator interest? Nothing is heard of about this sport in recent times.
The lovers of this cue sport would like answers to these and many more questions about the progress of the sport.
A former national player and currently a coach who wished to remain unanimous said that it is sad to say that the standard of the sport has dropped to dangerously low levels. There is no player of class who can be picked to represent the country at international tournaments now.
“In the past spectators thronged to watch players like Laffir, Boteju or Sirisoma in action. They played at such a high standard that spectators would be stunned by the style and crafty techniques adopted on the tables,” he said.
Sri Lanka produced a world billiards champion in MJM Laffir because he adopted technically perfect and crafty methods to get over his opponents. Many spectators went to watch him and many more play in tournament held locally. That was how attractive and amusing their game was.
At present the All Island tournament is in progress and none of these players have come under the spotlight with superlative performances. None of them have had breaks of 100 points or more to say the least.
The National tournament is scheduled to begin shortly and there is no favourite player who is tipped to win, unlike in the tournaments held in the past.
The Minister of Sports should step in and make inquiries about what the governing body is doing to improve the standard of the sport played over the green blaze. This is the sport that produced Sri Lanka’s first world champion and why this cannot be achieved again in the near future is the question?
According to this former player there is no player of quality today and not worthy of being selected and sent to international tournaments. It is true that exposure helps towards gaining experience and improvement but that is only if the player has any talent for such progress.
So it is time the minister takes stock of the current state of affairs and offer guidance to the governing body to improve the sport.