Taking the cue for success
Ranveer, at the age of six, became the youngest ever pool player in India to participate in the National Pool Championship held at Ludhiana, reports Ruma Kat 

HOW much can you expect from the tiny hands of a four-and-a-half foot tall boy to hold, control, and play with a cue stick longer than his height? But probably, Ranveer Duggal, at the age of six, adapted himself to tame the much longer cue stick perfectly on the snooker table where he had to lie all over to play every shot. At the age of six, Ranveer became the youngest ever pool player in India to participate in the National Pool Championship held at Sutlej Club, Ludhiana, last year. With this, he also got an opportunity to play with world champion Pankaj Advani. 

All players in a row: Ranveer (centre) with coach and grandfather Rakesh Duggal (left) and father Sandeep Duggal Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

This was his first snooker event, before which, his field of “expertise” was pool. “My field of expertise was pool when I started playing but then I practised snooker also and I enjoyed it as well,” says the little master, who willn’t even take his eyes off the table for a single second while he’s playing. Except for when he is offered a plate of Maggi noodles and that too, has to be around the table he’s playing!

What more could have Ranveer asked for, when he was honoured by Padma Shri Geet Sethi, who has been the king of the cue sports. Ranveer was also honoured as the youngest player to participate in the 6-Red National Snooker Championship held recently at the Chandigarh Club. 

At the age of seven, Ranveer clinched another record by being the youngest player to participate in the National Snooker and Billiards Championship that were held at the PYC Gymkhana Club, Pune last month.

As the saying goes, “If you are first, you are first; if you are second, you are nothing”. Hence, Ranveer has only one dream – to become a world champion one day and not accept anything less than that. “I want to be at top of this sport. I want to be a world champion,” says the Class I student from St Stephen’s School. Therefore, by just making a record of being the youngest player to participate in several championships, doesn’t satisfy Ranveer. He is practising even more to win each of these titles next time. 

It is well known that strong players produce velocity in a game of pool. The speed generated gives them maximum match. But there are some top players who read their game. For them, the most important thing becomes the speed of thought. 

Rakesh Duggal, secretary of Chandigarh Association of Snooker and Billiards, and also the coach and grandfather of Ranveer Duggal, has trained the little master in a manner that he only sees how he can get his game. His head plays more than his frail thin arms and this way, he’s taught to get his match. “It’s only about your instance that has to be correct. If your left hand is firm enough on the table, and the right arm is straight to produce an accurate cueing, then nothing can stop you to pot a ball. Also, a great work of mind is used on the table. You have to see your cue ball first, the ball to be hit, the pot targeted, and where would you end up, calling the cue ball for your next shot. It looks simple, but needs a lot of practice. And if you are focussed, you can master any kind of shot on the table. This is what I teach my students,” says Rakesh Duggal, who himself has been a snooker champion in his days, and now coaches young talented players. 

There are six million shots in a game of pool; therefore, it’s impossible for a coach to teach all of them. But it is indeed possible for a determined player to practice them all, in order to master the game. Ranveer, after his school and daily studies, practices for three to four hours daily at the Chandigarh Club. His father, Sandeep Duggal, also a snooker and billiards champion for more than 10 years, ensures proper training for Ranveer so that he can master every kind of shot and escape the toughest snook given by the opponent. “In another three years, I want to prepare my son to play against Advani and I am sure, that the way he has picked up the game already, it’s a natural art that has been gifted to him, he’ll definitely come out with flying colours.”

President of Chandigarh Billiards and Snooker Association, Mukesh Bassi, has always been in favour of spotting talented kids at a very young age in order to help them to make a career in cue sports. Ranveer has been moulded to such an extent towards this sport that if he today sees snooker or a pool table in front, he’ll pick up his cue stick in a second, set the frame, and break to begin the game with any opponent standing in front. Unfortunately, as his last opponent, I was defeated back-to-back in seven frames in the 9-ball pool game by this so-called “little child,” who is on his way to becoming the master of the game.