Former World billiards champion Manoj Kothari passed away following a cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, on Monday morning. Kothari was 67 and is survived by his wife, daughter and son Sourav Kothari, a two-time World billiards champion, according to a BSFI release.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of former World billiards champion and chief National coach Manoj Kothari,” said S Balasubramaniam, president, Billiards and Snooker Federation of India. “On behalf of the BSFI, I extend my deepest condolences to Manoj Kothari’s family at this difficult time. His demise is a huge loss to the cue sports fraternity.”
Kothari, who has been ailing for the last six months, had undergone a liver transplant 10 days ago. Although the surgery was successful, he developed a lung infection a few days back and succumbed to a massive cardiac arrest, according to family sources.
Kothari had won the IBSF World Billiards title in Bengaluru in 1990 to join a long list of World champions from India. Kothari, who never won the National title, got a wildcard entry following the last-minute withdrawal of a player from the Philippines. He made the most of it and defeated National champion Ashok Shandilya in the final to conquer the world in stunning fashion.
“It’s a sad day for the cue sports fraternity, we have lost a legend,” said Shandilya, the current National coach.
A mechanical engineer by profession, Kothari, who is credited with the introduction of scientific coaching in billiards, was the chief National coach for cue sports for over a decade-and-a-half. He also coached Iranian players after quitting competitive billiards in 2003. Kothari was a recipient of the prestigious Dhyan Chand Award in 2005.
Kothari, who had won the World doubles billiards championships in 1997, had been serving as India’s cue sports chief coach for about a decade-and-a-half.
The BSFI mourns the passing of the former World billiards champion and expresses its condolences to the bereaved family.
