Sun, Nov 14 10 04:07 PM
S S Ramaswamy Guangzhou, Nov 14 (PTI) Ace cueist Pankaj Advani showed nerves of steel under severe pressure to clinch the first gold medal for India in the Asian Games today when he came twice from behind to edge out Myanmar''s Oo Nay Thway 3-2 and retain his title after a bitterly fought billiards singles final here. The 25-year-old Advani was down 1-2 after losing the first and third frames, but fought back in dogged fashion to clinch the fourth to take the match into a nerve-wracking final frame, at the Asian Games Town Gymnasium, near the athletes village. A visibly happy Advani, who has won the world professional and IBSF titles in the past, said this was the biggest title of his career. "This feels great. This is Olympics for me as unfortunately we are not there in the Olympics. This time I made it a point to win the first gold for the country. It''s an absolutely emotional moment for me. I cant''t ask for more," said the Bangalore-based Advani at the media conference. Advani took early lead in the deciding frame against his rival, who had knocked out former world billiards professional champion Geet Sethi in the opening round, to lead 64-17 before his Myanmar opponent staged a grand fight-back to reduce the lead to a mere 19 points. But a simple missed red pot by the opponent provided the Indian champion the ideal chance to get back into the gold medal hunt which he did with a superb unbeaten break of 36, finishing off the match with a red pot to the top right pocket to bring a roar of appreciation from the mainly Indian supporters assembled at the venue. Advani won the match 33-100, 100-61, 12-101, 101-4, 100-45 to clinch his second straight gold at the Asiad after having won the 2006 gold medal too in the same event at Doha in Qatar. .
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