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| Edited By: Anil Dias |Source: DNA |Updated: Sep 30, 2017, 06:05 AM IST
It's a very special feeling to win both the titles obviously. I'm over the moon. I won the IBSF World Snooker Championship last year in Pakistan, so to go ahead and win the continental title feels really good.
The 6-Reds is a very unpredictable format. You can't plan your moves. It's much like the T20 cricket format. It's exciting and you're not allowed to make many errors. In the quarterfinal I played Muhammad Asif of Pakistan. He's a very accomplished player having win a few international titles. But I managed to win easily. Then there was Aditya Mehta in the semifinal who has always been a formidable opponent. It wasn't easy, but I got through. In the final against Malaysian Keen Hoh Mohthere, there was bit more pressure. Probably because I hadn't won this Asian title for five years. I guess that was going through my mind. But I guess sometimes we just got to hang in there and get the job done. And that's exactly what I did.
To be honest, as long as I know I'm doing the things I need to do, I feel the results will come. I know that I cannot win every single tournament I participate in despite being the favourite. People expect you to win. And if you win, people say, 'oh, we expected you to win'. As a competitor I know how difficult it is to win a tournament, knowing that the others are going to come very hard at me because they know they have to be sharp. They're more keen to get the better of me. And I'm happy with that. Because it's a privilege, but also a responsibility. I always wanted be the guy to beat, and I'm happy I've gotten there. I've peaked at the right right.
I have always worked hard to get to the top. But I feel a lot of guys are always afraid of winning, you know. And that's what will not get them over the line. But when you play the game in a positive way, when you just concentrate on the process, I think things just follow.
People who put too much pressure on themselves are afraid of winning. When you know you have a real shot at winning, is when you start to choke. You tend to become nervous. You need the hunger to win the title. You need to play your natural game and not let the moment consume you. Don't say, 'oh my god, I'm actually here'. Many people say that they haven't won a title in a while so they put too much of pressure on themselves. And that's why they won't win the title.
You need to be prepared to lose. You cannot let it upset you. Because there are only two results in a match and you cannot expect to be on the winning side always. It's not my birth-right to win everything. There are others working well too. I lost two tournaments last year. But that actually allowing me to play freely. I ended up winning a gold medal in world championships. The whole process of losing is fascinating. Because one never sits backs after losing.
Well, the Asian team Championship was the next day so I didn't really get much time to celebrate. I came back home, and I've been here for four days. I got to spend time with family and near and dear ones which was really great. My mom made Palak Paneer, which I love. But then again, she cooks it irrespective if I win a tournament or not. That's all the celebration I had.
