Rafath Habib talks fast. He is even quicker at the pool table. And Habib,the reigning national champion in 9-ball pool,who trounced his opponent Dipayan Kothari 5-1 on Wednesday to qualify for the knockouts in the National Pool Championships,isnt prepared to take his foot off the accelerator. Pool is a difficult game so I cannot relax even for a while. Although I had easy outings till the qualifying stage but now there is no scope for an error, says Habib. Habib,who inherited cue skills from his father Syed Habib,will be participating in the selection camp for the upcoming Asian Games,believes that there is no substitute to match practice and calls for more tournaments to uplift the standards of this new format in the country. We are lacking pool tournaments in the country. The Far East countries who dominate pool dont have time even to breathe,they have a packed calendar. The pool standards in India will improve if there more tournaments conducted all round the year. We might be confident to win a medal in snooker and billiards but to bring a medal in pool,we need to start work hard from now, added Habib. Habib expressed happiness over the appointment of foreign coach George Decer,who will be working with the Indian team in May and July in the run up to the Games. Decer will be of great helpObviously it is a positive thing for Indian pool. The coach will definitely impart technical skills and experience which we lack. If we grab these skills,then I am sure it will make a difference,says Habib,emphasising that focus of the game gets diverted since we mix playing all three cue games. George will help players to stay in focus. The 39-year former Asian snooker gold medalist says he rues not being able to take part in the 2010 Commonwealth Games that will be played in Delhi. It could have been dream come true if we were participating in the 2010 Commonwealth games. The federation is trying its best to introduce cue sports into the Commonwealth Games and I wish it makes it to the next edition of the Commonwealth games, he says.
