Geet Sethi favours 'Point Format' to popularise billiards

Bangalore, Sep 14 (UNI) Billiards legend Geet Sethi today stressed the need for encouraging 'Points Format' to popularise the game and attract more youngsters to it.

Talking to UNI here today, he said ''players like me and Michele Ferrera like to play 'Time Format,' but I think, in the better interest of the game, it is better to go for 'Point format.' When asked whether there was a need to increase International Billiards and Snooker Federation's (IBSF) 150 points in 'Point Format', he said '' I favour it further reducing the points to 100 as it was held in the Asian Billiards Champion, and it may be held best of seven or 11 to open up the game, so the difference in the caliber of players get a little mediated.'' Geet clarified that IBSF, which has 150 points in the 'Point Format,' was trying to bring it out what was the best 'Format'.

To a question, he said ''I don't think 'Time Format' will not completely fade away.'' Introduction of marketing strategy was another way to attract more spectators and players to the game, he said. When women could be utilised in advertisement for the sale of pen and soap, why not in cue sports, he asked.

Comparing the billiards of his age and the present, he said media exposure has helped to popularise the game. During Michele Ferrera and Arvind Savur period, there were only three newspapers, he added.

To a question, he said 'Point Format' could attract more countries also.

UNI MSP RAR HT1155