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World champion Kothari puts weight behind cue sports’ Olympic bid

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Kolkata, Dec 14 (IANS) World Billiards champion Sourav Kothari on Friday put his weight behind the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS) in their bid to be part of the Paris 2024 Olympic Sports programme, saying the sport is massively popular across the globe and deserves to be part of the quadrennial extravaganza.

The WCBS — which represents snooker, billiards and carom — last month launched its bid to become part of the Paris 2024 Olympic Sports programme at a special ceremony at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Hosted by the Billiards 2024 Committee and supported by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and World Snooker, the event represented a significant milestone in billiard sports’ bid for inclusion in the Paris 2024 Games.

Kothari, who defeated Peter Gilchrist of Singapore 1134-944 to clinch the 2018 WBL World Billiards Championship title in Leeds in October, said it’s high time the sport is given Olympics recognition as it is highly popular.

“The World Snooker Association, which is the apex body for world professional Billiards and Snooker field, have officially launched their bid for Paris Olympics. Snooker is massively popular in Europe and in many parts of the world and it should be included in Olympics,” Kothari told reporters before departing for the IBSF World 6 Red Snooker Championship starting on December 18.

Asked if the lack of recognition even after winning the World title upsets him, Kothari said that as long as the sport is not part of the Olympics, it won’t get its due share in India.

“We are performing all the time but out country has an obsession with Olympic sports. Everywhere, whatever platform you go to, they are pushed in front,” said the former national and Asian Billiards champion.

Hailing the BCCI for marketing cricket brilliantly, Kothari said cue sports should take a cue from the way cricket has grown.

“What BCCI has done for cricket is amazing. You cannot blame cricket for anything as if cricket was not there, IPL would not have come. Now franchise based leagues are everywhere. So I think associations need to take cue from BCCI.”

On the World 6-Reds taking place in Egypt, Kothari said its a completely different ball game to billiards and he won’t start as a favourite.

“Billiards and snooker field is different. This World Championship you will have players from China and European nations who are extremely strong snooker playing nations.

“Billiards have a different participation. Here you will see a lot of players from Egypt.

“I am not playing the team event. There are four Indian teams who are playing in the team event, but I am only playing in the individual World 6 Red Snooker Championship,” he signed off.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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