Unheralded Wickmayer reached women’s semi-finals at US Open

Billiards world champ Advani delighted to discover a small similarity with the legendary boxer an everlast track top

Unheralded Wickmayer reached women's semi-finals at US Open

Billiards world champ Advani delighted to discover a small similarity with the legendary boxer an everlast track top

When world billiards champion Pankaj Advani returned to India on Tuesday, his Everlast track top reminded one of Muhammad Ali, who used to endorse the same brand.

The logo across his chest went well with his invincibility at the World billiards championship.

The 25-year-old admits the feeling of victory has not sunk in yet. "I have been getting so many calls and have not had the time really to savour it," says Advani when asked about his informal, sporty Everlast attire.

The Bangalore boy, current toast of the nation says, "You know, I am a very informal kind of a guy. I have, in fact, been very vocal about the dress code in cue sport. I am not for the stiff, formal look but towards more casual clothing in the game."

Advani, who describes himself as a jeans and a t-shirt kind of guy outside the cue room laughs as he hears that Muhammad Ali used to endorse Everlast.

"Really? I did not know about that. Well, if I have something in common with Muhammad Ali, then, that is great. I feel honoured really to be compared to him even in this way.

"I bought this tracksuit in Dubai because it was sporty and comfortable." Advani now has a hectic season ahead.

"I am off to Agra for the snooker and billiards nationals shortly," he says before ending with, "You know, reports say that I have won my first professional billiards world title and earlier, I had won amateur titles. This is a misconception. The earlier titles were under the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) umbrella, while the World Professional Snooker Association (WPSA) conducted this one. Yet, just because this one has the 'professional' word in it, it does not mean the other titles were amateur, they were just under a different body."

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