India Set to Host Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships in Ahmedabad
Historic Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships
This October, Ahmedabad will showcase India's top cue sports talent as it hosts the Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships for the first time. An 18-member Indian team has been announced for this prestigious multi-discipline event, scheduled from October 7 to 10, 2026, at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex.
The Championships will feature participants from around 46 Commonwealth nations competing in various formats, including English Billiards, Snooker, 10-Ball Pool, Heyball, and Blackball. This event is organized by Apex Sports Promotion and hosted by the Billiards & Snooker Federation of India (BSFI), with support from the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS) and Commonwealth Sport, marking a significant milestone for Indian cue sports and coinciding with BSFI's centenary celebrations.
India's Medal Aspirations
Following a successful inaugural edition in Mauritius in 2025, where India secured five medals, including a gold by Vidya Pillai in Women's Heyball, the Indian team enters the Championships with high hopes. Pillai, along with silver medalists Shivam Arora and Chitra Magimairaj, will aim to enhance their medal count on home turf.
Pillai, the reigning Commonwealth Women's Heyball champion, expressed her excitement about defending her title in front of a home crowd, emphasizing the significance of this opportunity. Arora, who earned silver in Mauritius, is determined to upgrade his medal to gold this time around.
Players' Perspectives
Pillai remarked, "Winning the first Commonwealth title was a very special moment for me, but defending it in India makes this edition even more meaningful. We are all looking forward to playing in front of our supporters. The competition will be tough, but the home crowd can provide that extra motivation. I hope to give everyone something to celebrate."
Arora added, "The silver medal in Mauritius boosted my confidence, but I want more. Competing in Ahmedabad gives us a unique feeling. We are prepared to aim for the top step of the podium, and hosting such a significant event is a pivotal moment for cue sports in India."
Strong Indian Contingent
The Indian squad boasts a blend of seasoned players and rising stars. Anupama Ramachandran, the current IBSF Women's World Snooker champion, will lead the English Billiards team alongside Revanna Umadevi. Keerthana Pandian, the 2026 Asian Women's Snooker champion, will also represent India in Snooker, supported by Shruthi Lakshminarayanan and Ishika Shah.
Chitra Magimairaj, a two-time World Ladies English Billiards champion, returns with Amee Kamani and Neena Praveen in 10-Ball Pool, while young talent Natasha Chethan strengthens the Blackball team. The men's team includes experienced players like Siddharth Parikh, Laxman Rawat, and Sundeep Gulati, alongside promising talents Rayaan Razmi and Paras Gupta.
Championship Details
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.