Maharashtra Governor inaugurates Indian Open

The 2nd Indian Open World Ranking Snooker Championship carrying pound sterling 300,000 as prize money was inaugurated formally here today by Governor of Maharashtra Vidyasagar Rao.
In his address, the Governor lauded the efforts of the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India for conducting a world ranking tournament in India.
"I congratulate the BSFI for holding the Indian Open and I wish them all the best for the success of the tournament," he said.
The Governor also requested BSFI to promote cue sports at the grassroots and at the university level. He released a souvenir before declaring the tournament open.

Jason Ferguson, Chairman of World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, said, "It's great that cue sport, which originated in India, is receiving such great support from people like Capt. Mohan (president of the BSFI). India is truly now a global hub for cue sports."
Indian cue ace Pankaj Advani, speaking on behalf of all the snooker professionals who will be taking part in the five-day tournament commencing tomorrow, said cue sports was looking up in the country with the announcement by Capt. Mohan, who is also the president of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation, of the Asian Tour to be held on the lines of the European pro tour as well as the Indian league.

Also present during the one-hour function was was S S Mundra, Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India.
Aditya Mehta, the lone Indian professional on the snooker tour, has made it to the 64-men main draw led by defending champion Ding Junhui of China while six of his compatriots, spearheaded by Advani, are making a bid to enter the tournament proper through the one-round qualifier.