India Set to Host Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships in Ahmedabad

The Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships are set to take place in Ahmedabad, India, from October 7 to 10, 2026. This prestigious event will feature an 18-member Indian squad competing against cueists from 46 Commonwealth nations. With notable players like Vidya Pillai and Shivam Arora returning to defend their titles, the excitement is palpable. The Championships will showcase various disciplines, including English Billiards and Snooker, marking a significant milestone for Indian cue sports. As the country prepares to host this international event, the anticipation among players and fans alike is building. Read on to learn more about the event and the talented athletes representing India.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 16, 2026, 00:03 IST

Exciting Times for Cue Sports in India

In a historic moment for Indian cue sports, Ahmedabad will welcome the Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships this October, marking the event's debut in India. The competition is scheduled from October 7 to 10, 2026, at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, featuring an impressive 18-member Indian team.

This prestigious event will see participants from around 46 Commonwealth nations competing in various disciplines, including English Billiards, Snooker, 10-Ball Pool, Heyball, and Blackball, as announced in a recent release.

Organized by Apex Sports Promotion and hosted by the Billiards & Snooker Federation of India (BSFI), the Championships are supported by the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS) and Commonwealth Sport, coinciding with BSFI's centenary celebrations.

India enters the Championships with optimism after securing five medals at the inaugural event in Mauritius in 2025, highlighted by Vidya Pillai's gold in Women's Heyball and silver medals for Shivam Arora and Chitra Magimairaj.

All three medalists have qualified directly for this year's Championships, aiming to enhance their medal counts on home turf.

Vidya Pillai, the reigning Commonwealth Women's Heyball champion, is among the top contenders. She achieved a thrilling victory over South Africa's Marina Jacobs to clinch gold last year and is eager to defend her title in front of a home audience.

Shivam Arora, who earned silver in Men's Heyball, is also back, determined to upgrade his medal from Mauritius to gold this time around.

Pillai expressed her excitement, stating, "Winning the first Commonwealth title was a significant achievement, but defending it in India adds even more importance. We are thrilled to host such a large-scale tournament in Ahmedabad and play before our supporters. The competition will be fierce, but the home crowd can provide that extra motivation. I look forward to making everyone proud at the Commonwealth Championships."

Arora echoed her sentiments, saying, "The silver medal in Mauritius boosted my confidence, but I am eager for more. Competing in India, especially in Ahmedabad, brings a unique feeling. We are aware of the high competition level, but we have been training hard to aim for the top podium position. Hosting an international championship like this is a monumental moment for cue sports in India, and we intend to seize this opportunity."

The Indian squad boasts a blend of seasoned players and rising stars. Leading the women's team is Anupama Ramachandran, the current IBSF Women’s World Snooker champion, who will compete in English Billiards alongside Revanna Umadevi. Keerthana Pandian, the 2026 Asian Women’s Snooker champion, will lead the Snooker campaign with teammates Shruthi Lakshminarayanan and Ishika Shah.

Chitra Magimairaj, a two-time World Ladies English Billiards champion and silver medalist in Women’s 10-Ball Pool, returns alongside Amee Kamani and Neena Praveen, while young talent Natasha Chethan strengthens the Blackball squad.

The men's team includes experienced players like Siddharth Parikh, Laxman Rawat, and Sundeep Gulati, along with promising talents Rayaan Razmi and Paras Gupta. Rawat arrives in Ahmedabad in excellent form after a successful run at the 2026 WPA Heyball World Championships in Pune, and will be joined by Aditya Mehta in Snooker. Divya Sharma completes the men's 10-Ball Pool lineup.

The Championships will feature 10 medal sets across both men's and women's competitions, with Billiards making its debut in this year's Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships.

India's 18-Member Squad

Men

Billiards: Siddharth Parikh, Rayaan Razmi

Snooker: Laxman Rawat, Aditya Mehta

Heyball: Shivam Arora (Direct Entry), Paras Gupta

10-Ball Pool: Divya Sharma

Blackball: Sundeep Gulati

Women

Billiards: Anupama Ramachandran, Revanna Umadevi

Snooker: Keerthana Pandian, Shruthi Lakshminarayanan, Ishika Shah

Heyball: Vidya Pillai (Direct Entry), Amee Kamani

10-Ball Pool: Chitra Magimairaj (Direct Entry), Neena Praveen

Blackball: Natasha Chethan.