Pankaj being ignored, KSBA cries out

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Keywords: Karnataka State Billiards Association, Karnataka Government

Bangalore: Karnataka State Billiards Association (KSBA) on Thursday lamented that the state government had "ignored" the contribution of cueist Pankaj Advani and demanded that he be given the "due recognition."

"People in power in Karnataka have not recognised Pankaj's achievements. It is very unfortunate that people from outside were called and honoured here. We are not making any comparision between sportspersons, but it is a fact that due recognition is not given to this boy," KSBA president Balasubramanyam said.

"We don't know what achievement Pankaj, a winner of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, should make to get recognition from the state," Balasubramanyam asked.

"It is not the question of money. It is only the question of recognition," he stressed.

Karnataka had earlier honoured tennis sensation Sania Mirza and presented a cheque for Rs five lakh to her.

At least now after the gold medal in Asian Games, let the people in power honour Pankaj, Balasubramanyam demanded.

Three years ago when Pankaj won the World Snooker Championship, Karnataka government announced that the cueist would be given a house site by the Bangalore Development Authority.

When asked about it, Pankaj said, "I only got a letter from the government and fulfilled required formalities. But nothing has come so far."