Vidya Pillai Explained

Vidya Pillai
Birth Date:1977 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India

Vidya Viswanathan Pillai (born 26 November 1977)[1] is an Indian professional snooker player. Vidya Pillai grew up in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. In recognition of her achievements, the Government of Karnataka bestowed her with the Ekalavya award in 2016 for outstanding performance in Sports.[2] She has won several International medals for India and in 2013 won the gold medal in the IBSF World Team Snooker Championship, Gold in the IBSF Australian Women's Ranking Snooker Championship in 2016 and was the first Indian woman to reach the finals of the WLBSA World Women's Snooker Championship in 2017.[3] She is also a 9-time winner of the National Championship Title.

National career

Vidya Pillai credits former Indian international cricketer Hemang Badani for introducing her to the sport when she was aged 22, and the late national billiards champion, TG Kamala Devi, for inspiring her. Pillai is a ten-time Women's National Snooker Champion, her latest victory coming in 2020. She has finished runner-up in three different editions of the tournament, in 2006, 2009 and 2015. She also won the Indian National 6-Red Snooker Championship in 2013 & the Indian National 9-Ball Pool Championship in 2005.

In 2017 she was a part of the Chennai Strikers in the Indian Cue Masters League, where she was teamed up with Pankaj Advani for mixed doubles.[4]

In 2018, Vidya started working with the acclaimed SightRight Accredited coach Pranit Ramchandani.

International career

Vidya Pillai made her first international appearance at the 2007 IBSF World Snooker Championship (Ladies) and lost in the quarter-finals.[5] Ever since, she has won a gold medal in the IBSF World Team Snooker Championship in 2013, Gold in the IBSF Australian Women's Ranking Snooker Championship in 2016, Gold in the IBSF Australian Open Women's Snooker Championship in 2010, Two Silver medals in the IBSF World 6 Reds Snooker Championship Women in 2015 and 2016, one Silver in the IBSF World Team Snooker Championship in 2016, two Bronze medals IBSF World Snooker Championship in 2010 and 2012, one Bronze in the IBSF World Team Snooker Championship in 2014 and reached the semi-finals at the WLBSA World Billiards Championship in 2008.[6] She has also won a silver medal at the Asian Billiard Sport Championship held at Doha in 2016. She was runner-up to Ng On-yee at the WLBSA World Women's Snooker Championship in 2017.[7]

Career honours

OutcomeYearChampionshipOpponent(s)ScoreRef.
Winner2003 Indian National Snooker Championship [8] [9]
Winner2005 Indian National Snooker Championship[10]
Winner2005 Indian National 9-Ball Pool Championship
Winner2005 Indian National 8-Ball Pool Championship
Runner-up2006 Indian National Snooker Championship
Winner2007 Indian National Snooker Championship
Runner-up2007 Indian National 8-Ball Pool Championship
Winner2008 Indian National Snooker Championship
Runner-up2008 Indian National 8-Ball Pool Championship
Runner-up2009 Indian National Snooker Championship
Winner2010 Australian Open Women's Snooker Championship
Winner2010 Indian National Snooker Championship
Runner-up2010 Indian National 6-Red Snooker Championship
Runner-up2010 Indian National 8-Ball Pool Championship
Winner2012 Indian National Snooker Championship
Winner2013 IBSF World Team Snooker Championship (with) 3-2 [11]
Winner2013 Indian National 6-Red Snooker Championship
Winner2013 Indian National Snooker Championship
Winner2014Indian National Snooker Championship [12]
Runner-up2015 IBSF 6 Reds snooker Snooker Championship [13]
Runner-up2015Indian National Snooker Championship 2–4 [14]
Winner2016IBSF Australian Women's Ranking Snooker Championship
Runner-up2016 IBSF 6 Reds snooker Snooker Championship
Runner-up2016 IBSF World Team Snooker Championship (with and [15]
Runner-up2016 Asian Billiard Sports Championship
Winner2016Indian National Snooker Championship 4–2 [16]
Runner-up2016 Indian National 6-Red Snooker Championship1–4 [17]
Runner-up2017World Women's Snooker Championship5–6[18]
Winner2020 Indian National Snooker Championship 3–2 [19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Athlete Profile: VISWANATHAN PILLAI Vidya . Ashgabat 2017 . ashgabat2017.com . 17 October 2019 . 17 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191017221322/http://ashgabat2017.com/atos/ashgabat17/eng/zb/engzb_billiard-sports-athlete-profile-n144325-viswanathan-pillai-vidya.htm . live .
  2. News: Dhwani . Desai . Waited for the Ekalavya Award for five years: Vidya Pillai. The Times of India . 7 October 2016 . 21 June 2022.
  3. News: Vidya Pillai still running for cover despite laurels galore in women's snooker. The New Indian Express. 2017-08-26. 26 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170826155041/http://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2017/aug/25/vidya-pillai-still-running-for-cover-despite-laurels-galore-in-womens-snooker-1647955.html. live.
  4. News: Chennai Strikers, Hyderabad Hustlers win in Indian Cue Masters League. 2017-08-20. hindustantimes. 2017-08-26. en. 26 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170826155810/http://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/chennai-strikers-hyderabad-hustlers-win-in-indian-cue-masters-league/story-PWkkQ1ZPZOkRO6zlFzByqJ.html. live.
  5. Web site: 2013 IBSF Team Snooker Women Finalists . 14 January 2015 . 15 January 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150115105053/http://www.live-stream-news.com/forum/main-forum/330 . live .
  6. . Evans wins fourth consecutive title . Snooker Scene . 37 . Everton's News Agency . June 2008 .
  7. News: Chan . Kin-wa . 20 March 2019 . Hong Kong's Ng On-yee regains world title after titanic final against Vidya Pillai . South China Morning Post . 29 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190830085548/https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2080351/hong-kongs-ng-yee-regains-world-title-after-titanic-final-against . 30 August 2019 . live .
  8. Web site: Snooker: Rossouw makes Vidya Pillai sweat it out. Ashwin. Achal. thehindu.com. 31 March 2017. 1 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170101003521/http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/snooker-rossouw-makes-vidya-pillai-sweat-it-out/article6625367.ece. live.
  9. Web site: Advani, Vidya Pillai crowned champions. The Hindu. 14 January 2015. 11 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140311175638/http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/advani-vidya-pillai-crowned-champions/article5762133.ece. live.
  10. Web site: Gupta . Ravindra Kumar . Indian Queen of the Green . RKG Snooker . 21 June 2022.
  11. Web site: Indian women win team title in World Snooker Championship – Times of India. indiatimes.com. 31 March 2017. 3 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170303211114/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/snooker/billiards/Indian-women-win-team-title-in-World-Snooker-Championship/articleshow/23611499.cms. live.
  12. Web site: Advani, Vidya Pillai crowned champions. Y. B.. Sarangi. thehindu.com. 31 March 2017. 11 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140311175638/http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/advani-vidya-pillai-crowned-champions/article5762133.ece. live.
  13. Web site: Alok-Rafath wins bronze World Team Championships (Masters). cuesportsindia.com. 31 March 2017. 22 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170322203643/http://www.cuesportsindia.com/myweb/news/2015/n13.htm. live.
  14. News: 26 January 2015 . Advani captures senior national title . The Asian Age . 35.
  15. Web site: Pathak . Vivek . Successful completion of 2016 World 6Red and Team Snooker . IBSF . 4 August 2015 . 21 June 2022.
  16. News: 2 February 2016 . Lucky is state's best . Deccan Chronicle . 39 .
  17. News: 7 January 2016 . Chawla, Kamani emerge champs . The Free Press Journal . 17 .
  18. News: Vidya Pillai pots silver in Women World Snooker – Times of India. The Times of India. 2017-03-22. 30 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170830230111/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/snooker/billiards/vidya-pillai-pots-silver-in-women-world-snooker/articleshow/57729109.cms. live.
  19. Stead . Marcus. Tournament Winners. Snooker Scene . 20 . Snooker Scene Ltd . March 2020 .

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