Billiards champion Pankaj Advani talks about his own discipline, self-belief and the work-life balance that makes him a winner.
He’s recently won his fourth Asian Billiards Championship title and become the only cueist to win a hat-trick of Asian Billiards titles. Pankaj Advani shares the mantras that make him a winner ….
On success...
Playing competitive billiards at the highest level itself is a thrill. It is passion alone that keeps me going. I consider myself an artiste who loves to shine at the arena. Playing the sport you love is a creative way of expressing yourself. Inspite of winning seven World titles, I always feel nervously excited at the start of a big game. There is no room for complacency when you are playing the best in the world. I am a huge risk-taker and love challenges. Every victory gives me a top-of-the-world feeling and there’s nothing like ‘getting used to success, every win is special.
Discipline and dealing with falure...
I rely on my natural abilities and that results in high self-belief. I never pretend to be someone else or copy anyone else’s style of playing. I play the game in only one way — the way I know it. I have been blessed to have a coach like Arvind Savur. Although I love his style, I have my own — about which he, too, is very happy. For my physical fitness, I work out at home. I am also a vegetarian and it keeps me light and alert.
Winning happens twice. Once in your mind and the next in reality. You find the word ‘loss’ in lesson. As long as you derive the lesson from every loss, the failure becomes totally productive.
Work-life balance
For me, work is play. I do not worry too much about when and how much I need to play. There are days when I don’t play at all and there are days when I’m at it for 6 hours. It’s imperative for it to come from within. Only when my heart is in it, I do it.
1. Play hard. Party harder. After a hectic session or match, I like to unwind by hitting a relaxed lounge with friends.
2. Before a tournament, I play two sessions a day which gives me time in between to give my mind a break from the game.
3. After a long trip/tournament, I enjoy spending quality time at home with family. This is when I take a complete break by doing different things like bowling, movies or just going out of town for a couple of days for a quick getaway.
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