It’s not always about winning. It’s also about the fun you get from playing, that is the real reward,” says septugenarian Vijay Ved. One couldn’t agree more with that when it is revealed that this gentleman has been playing competetive billiards for almost 51 years on the trot reaching the final just once.

“That was in 1979 when I reached the final at an event played at the Parsi Gymkhana. I, however, ran out of luck as my opponent was none other than Subhash Agarwal one of the finest players India has ever produced,” recalled Ved, who was on a family vacation to Lonavala and would get down to Mumbai for the matches and go back after he reached last-16 stage. “Losing to Agarwal didn’t hurt me as I enjoyed the challenge of coming down to Mumbai to play my game,” says the 76-year-old.

Ved fell in love with the colourful balls on the green baize during his college days at St. Xavier’s in 1951. “Some of my friends used to go to play billiards at Central YMCA near Regal. After a few visit to the table, I started liking the game and then started bunking lectures for billiards,” informed Ved.

In fact billiards was the only game Ved coud have played. “I had developed asthama during my school days. It is hereditary in my family. I, therefore coudn’t play any other sport though I enjoyed playing table tennis earlier,” says Ved.

The love affair that has started from college days, forged a full-time relationship once Ved became a member of the PJ Hindu Gymkhana in 1957. “After coming to Hindu Gymkhana, I started playing at competetive level and used to play at various open events at Parsi, Islam Gymkhana and other places,” says Ved but he was never serious about winning. “I never allowed the thought of winning or losing distract me while I was on the table,” he added.

The game and its following has gone through a sea change in the last 50 years in Mumbai. “When I started playing in competitions, we would get about 160-plus entries for billiards while snooker entries would come around 50, but now it has totally reversed,” says Ved. “But I have never liked playing snooker, I was always a billiards player but now I at least watch snooker,” he says.

Ved says he always feels happy when he sees any youngster coming to the game. “There have been moments when I was pitted against youngsters, but I always tried to point out their mistakes even while the match was on. I want the game to grow and only good participation by youngsters could help the game grow,” observed Ved.

Billiards has given Ved something more than the fun. “I think since I kept playing billiards, I have never had fitness problems.”

Ved’s son was never fond of playing billiards and he never forced him to come to the table but now he is getting his 10-year-old grandson to take up the sport — again, just for fun. “I want him to carry on my legacy.”