Advani unlikely for Nationals, Mehta withdraws

Uncertainty looms large over eight-time world champion Pankaj Advani's participation in the Billiards and Snooker Nationals in Lucknow next month as the tournament dates clash with the Welsh Open world ranking event to be played around the same time.
The Nationals will be played in Lucknow from February 14 to March 7, while the Welsh Open will take place from February 19 to March 2.
Advani could be forced to skip the Nationals due to a clash in the dates of the two championships and his appearance in the Lucknow tournament would be subject to advancement of dates of the Welsh Open, which is an unlikely prospect.

India's number one snooker player Aditya Mehta has already expressed his inability to play in the Nationals due to his pro circuit commitments.
The Nationals will also mark the beginning of 2014 cuesport season which will see India playing host to the Asian Under-21 and Asian Billiards championships from April 4 to 10 in Punjab.
The country will be represented by eight cueists in the tournament.

India have also won the hosting rights of IBSF World Snooker (Men, Women & Masters) from November 16 to 29 in Bangalore which would see the participation of all the leading cueists in the world.

Six-Red snooker and Pool 8 & 9 Ball will also take place in India, but the dates and venues would be announced by the BSFI in coming months.
Internationally, Indian cueists would travel to Al Fujairah (UAE) for the Asian Snooker Championship from April 26 to May 3, World 6 Red & Team in Sharm El Shaikh, Egypt from June 18 to 29, Asian 6 Red Snooker & Team in Karachi from August 17 to 23, World Under 21 Snooker in St Petersburg - Russia, World Billiards Championship in Leeds, UK.