U-16 World Snooker Championship: Abhinav Mahanta from Assam likely to represent India this year

Guwahati: From Sprinter Hima Das to Cricketer Riyan Parag, there has been wide media coverage on their success on their social life to professional life, here’s a young snooker player from Assam who is likely to get selected in the Under-16 World Snooker Championship 2019 Indian squad.

The young energetic and enthusiastic snooker player from Assam namely Abhinav Mahanta is a resident of Guwahati’s Bhangagarh area has been selected for the training session which is scheduled on August 2019 in New Delhi.

Snooker player Abhinav Mahanta seemed confident while talking to media, as his chances of making into the U-16 team Indian Team is high.

“I am selected for the practice session which will be held in New Delhi, if I get qualified in the practice session then I will be selected in the Indian squad for the upcoming World Snooker Championship 2019,” said Abhinav Mahanta.

Abhinav Mahanta is the son of Dr Ashwin Kumar Mahanta and Babita Mahanta. He is a student of 10^th standard at Hindustan Kendriya Vidyalaya in Bhangagarh.

It may be mentioned that Abhinav Mahanta will become the first U-16 snooker player from entire Northeast who will be representing India in the U-16 World Snooker Championship 2019.

The World Snooker Championship is the leading snooker tournament both in terms of prestige and prize money.

The first championship was held in 1927 and was won by Joe Davis. Davis won the first 15 championships before retiring from the event, undefeated, after his 1946 success. In the 1950s snooker went into a period of decline and the championship was not held after 1952, although an unofficial championship was held until 1957.

In 1964 the championship was revived on a challenge basis and in 1969 the championship became a knock-out event again. Since 1977 it has been played at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. The tournament is currently played over 17 days and ends on the first Monday in May.

In the modern era (since 1969), the best record is that of Stephen Hendry, who won the title seven times. Steve Davis and Ray Reardon both won six times while Ronnie O'Sullivan has won five titles. The current champion is Judd Trump, whose 2019 win was his first.

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