For Pankaj Advani, a childhood love for sports slowly turned into a lifelong pursuit, taking him from playing several games at school to becoming one of India’s most celebrated cueists. But behind the titles and medals is a journey shaped by curiosity, discipline, self-belief and the simple joy of playing. On National Sports Day, Pankaj looks back at the moment he found his calling, and the lessons sports have taught him along the way.‘I was very competitive right from the start’During his school days, Pankaj was simply a child who loved sports. “I used to play badminton, basketball, cricket and football, but all at a very basic level. I was very competitive right from the start,” he recalls. That changed when his brother introduced him to cue sports at age 10. “I had a different level of obsession and passion for billiards. Little did I know that I would end up representing my country and winning medals over a period of two decades. I’m very fortunate that I discovered my real talent and gift at a very early age,” he says.‘Sport is a lot like life’For Pankaj, National Sports Day is also a reminder of what sports can teach beyond medals. He points to hockey legend Dhyan Chand as an enduring example of dedication and pride in representing India. “Sport truly builds character. It teaches you how to lose gracefully. It teaches you how to win with humility,” he says. His message to young players is simple: play, compete, learn and keep going. “Sport is a lot like life. With every victory, you gain confidence and grow. But with every loss, you learn how not to do certain things and rectify your mistakes,” he says
