Ahmedabad

The second edition of the Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships, featuring 144 players from across 42 nations, began here on Wednesday.

The Championships will see 72 men and 72 women compete across English Billiards, Snooker, 10-Ball Pool, Heyball and Blackball.

The four-day competition will feature 10 medal events and marks the first time the prestigious multi-discipline Championships are being staged in India.

Hosted by the Billiards & Snooker Federation of India (BSFI), under the endorsement of the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS) and Commonwealth Sport, the Championships mark a significant moment for Indian cue sports and form a centrepiece of BSFI's centenary celebrations.

India heads into the Championships with confidence after winning five medals at the inaugural edition in Mauritius in 2025.

Defending Commonwealth Women's Heyball champion Vidya Pillai, Men's Heyball silver medallist Shivam Arora and Women's 10-Ball Pool silver medallist Chitra Magimairaj headline the Indian challenge.

The Indian contingent will face a formidable international field featuring defending champions and world-class performers, including England's Kelly Fisher, South Africa's Craig Bouwer, Malaysia's Lim Kok Leong, England's Rebecca Kenna and Wales' Darren Morgan.

READ MORE:JCO Salman Khan's Asiad rowing medal ignites his Olympic dream

Speaking at the launch press conference, WCBS Vice President Mubarak Al-Khayarin said, "The Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships represent an important occasion for the sport, and we are delighted to see this year’s edition take place in Ahmedabad."