17-year-old DPS student Dhvaj Haria going great guns in billiards & snooker Championships in state
Harry Emerson Fosdick, the much-quoted American who was an outspoken opponent of racism and injustice, once said: “No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed. No steam or gas drives anything until it is confined.
No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated and disciplined.” Young cueist Dhvaj Haria personifies all this.
Last week, Haria became only the second player after the legendry Geet Sethi to win all the four titles - junior and senior billiards and junior and senior snooker at one state tournament.
“I had a tough time against Nilesh Chauhan in the junior snooker and Chintan Shah in the senior billiards, but I was able to hold my nerves. It was a very good experience and my confidence has gone up,” said Haria, who completed the ‘grand slam’ without losing a single match in the tournament.
The Delhi Public School student gives credit for his success to the Leeds Snooker Gym in England where he learnt a few tricks during his trip there in 2009.
“I came across players who have great potting skills and show aggression. Spending a week under Nic Barrow and playing against his wards helped me immensely. I learnt how to capitalise on breaks and how to build a huge score. I have been quite successful in striking 60 points in one break,” said Haria, who has set his eyes on Indian National Billiards & Snooker Championship 2010 which will be played in Pune next month.
Haria closely watches encounters of the green baize legends. “I don’t like to indulge in learning my rivals’ strategy or game plan. I simply focus on my game. For that, I am watching matches of Pankaj Advani, Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis among others, on Youtube,” said Haria, who admires Ronnie O’Sullivan’s style of playing.
The young cueist regularly gets valuable tips from veteran players of Gujarat and Mumbai. And so the expectation factor constantly haunts him. “Losing to unseeded players always worries me. It is different thing that I am able to overcome that fear.”
Haria also observed that he has a long way to go and there are a few flaws which he has to overcome.
“I try all the possible shots on the table, which I shouldn’t. Moreover, I have to master the safety shot, to become a complete player. For that, I am guided by Arun Agrawal,” said Haria, who wishes to repeat his feat in the second Gujarat state tournament he is participating in.
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