MUMBAI: Rajan Khinvasara of Poona Club was elected president of the Billiards & Snooker Association of Maharashtra (BSAM) during their Annual General Meeting and elections at the PJ Hindu Gymkhana on Sunday evening.
The Pune-based Khinvasara will be holding the president’s office for the second time. He had earlier held the post from 2015-2016 and had also served as the BSFI vice-president for the past seven years.
Besides Khinvasara, all the other office-bearers were also elected unopposed. Siddharth Parikh (P.J. Hindu Ghymkhana) and Saumil Karkera (Garware Club House) were elected as the two vice-presidents; Manav Panchal (Malabar Hill Club) and Rishabh Kumar (Bombay Gymkhana) were elected as the joint hon. secretaries. The hon. treasurer is Shekhar Surve (Western Railway SA), who was also elected unopposed.
Since there were nine candidates contesting for the six posts of managing committee members, voting was conducted. The six elected members are – Vishal Madan (Chembur Gymkhana), Pranav Chikhal (PJ Hindu Gymkhana), Venkateswaran Subramanian (Matunga Gymkhana), Amit Sapru (Park Club), Angad Bhatty (Otters Club), and Aditya Deshpande (PYC Gymkhana).
Khinvasara mentioned that he and the team would work towards starting a cue sports academy and training program in Mumbai. “Putting up an academy and training program is on our agenda forefront. We want to do it for the youngsters and Yasin Merchant a former two-time Asian Snooker champion is already working on such training programs. This has got to be a continuous process since the seniors will move out, the juniors will take their place. And as the youngsters are coming up it is the need of the hour that the youngsters are given the right kind of training,” the new president revealed.
“We had already in the past contacted (Vinod) Tawde from Maharashtra government and we have had a discussion on development and as far as, to form a cue sports academy in Mumbai. The government of Maharashtra has already verbally agreed to allot us a plot of land for the academy, but fortunately or unfortunately it could not be concluded, which we will be taking up on a priority basis so that we can start the academy in Mumbai with support from the Maharashtra government. Once the Mumbai academy is launched, my immediate aim to start a second academy in Pune and I will contribute in whatever way required whether it’s monetary fund or anything else, but first I would ensure an academy in Mumbai,” he further stated.
Khinvasara was also very happy that many members of the previous managing committee will be working with him. “They (previous MC) did very well. I applaud them for the work done. They conducted 20-odd tournaments during their term and that too without any significant financial support. We will ensure to put in 100 percent and continue the good work.”
BSAM executive managing committee (2019-2021):
President: Rajan Khinvasara (Poona Club) elected unopposed.
Vice-presidents: Siddharth Parikh (PJ Hindu Ghymkhan) and Saumil Karkera (Garware Club House) – both elected unopposed.
Joint hon. secretaries: Manav Panchal (Malabar Hill Club) and Rishabh Kumar (Bombay Gymkhana) – both elected unopposed.
Hon. treasurer: Shekhar Surve (WRSA) – elected unopposed.
Managing committee (6 elected members ): Vishal Madan (Chembur Gyymkhana), Pranav Chikhal (PJ Hindu Gymkhana), Venkateswaran Subramanian (Matunga Gymkhana), Amit Sapru (Park Club), Angad Bhatty (Otters Club), Aditya Deshpande (PYC Gymkhana).
