Cue sports no more for the rich alone
It was the hunt for riches that Martin Scorsese depicted in his 1986 sports drama on pool hustling, titled ‘The Color of Money’.
But, watching young cueists in action in the pool rooms in Kochi, one would understand that it is perhaps not ‘a rich man’s game' after all.
“Many tell me, it is a costly sport and I have always disagreed with them,” says M.F. Mundadan, president of the State Billiards and Snooker Association. “Compare its expenses with football or cricket and see which one is cost effective. All you need is to buy a cue, which is affordable,” he adds.
A walk around the three-table pool room in the Regional Sports Centre will give you a better picture. On Monday, when the state championship started, a little girl Gopika S. Pai, just about the right size to play pool was seen tapping in a few red balls on the pool table.
“I started playing after I participated in a summer camp and it is a very interesting game,” said Gopika, shyly. The 12-year-old was dressed in her uniform as she had come straight after school to take part in the state championship in the junior category.
Like Gopika, there are many youngsters who are frequent players in various clubs in the city and not everyone has a cue, which they can borrow, during games.
“Even if you decide to buy a cue, it starts from Rs 800 and most often that is a one-time investment, until and unless you like to upgrade it,” said M.S. Sadanandan, billiards and snooker coach at the regional sports centre.
“Most of the youngsters come into the sport through summer camps, where they get to love the cue sports and shed their apprehensions about the game, that it is for the elite and that it is costly, and such things,” said Sadanandan.
“Billiards is the mother game and snooker and pool evolved in the later period. Pool, which is played on a smaller table attracts the youngsters,” said Sadanandan.
Meanwhile, Mundadan says that there are at least 33 places in and around Kochi with tables where guest players are allowed to play for affordable entry fees.
Anyhow, it is good that the wrong feelings about cue sports are changing but, on a larger scale, is the sport getting acceptance in the state?
“Sadly no because our kids are not patient and you need that a lot to excel in this sport. They want to become champions in a week and trust me, it will take at least a couple of months until you learn to strike the ball neatly,” said Mr. Mundadan.
Post new comment