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Vidya Pillai

{{short description|Indian snooker player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}

{{Infobox snooker player

| name = Vidya Pillai

| image =

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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1977|11|26}}

| birth_place = Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India

| Sport country = {{IND}}

| Professional =

| High ranking =

| Official maximums =

| Best finish =

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| medals =

}}

Vidya Viswanathan Pillai (born 26 November 1977){{cite web |url=http://ashgabat2017.com/atos/ashgabat17/eng/zb/engzb_billiard-sports-athlete-profile-n144325-viswanathan-pillai-vidya.htm |title=Athlete Profile: VISWANATHAN PILLAI Vidya |publisher=Ashgabat 2017 |website=ashgabat2017.com |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017221322/http://ashgabat2017.com/atos/ashgabat17/eng/zb/engzb_billiard-sports-athlete-profile-n144325-viswanathan-pillai-vidya.htm |url-status=live }} is an Indian professional snooker player. Vidya Pillai grew up in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. In recognition of her achievements, the Government of Karnataka bestowed her with the Ekalavya award in 2016 for outstanding performance in Sports.{{cite news |first=Dhwani |last=Desai |title=Waited for the Ekalavya Award for five years: Vidya Pillai|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/waited-for-the-ekalavya-award-for-five-years-vidya-pillai/articleshow/54718730.cms |website=The Times of India |date=7 October 2016 |access-date=21 June 2022}} She has won several International medals for India and in 2013 won the gold medal in the IBSF World Team Snooker Championship, Gold in the IBSF Australian Women's Ranking Snooker Championship in 2016 and was the first Indian woman to reach the finals of the WLBSA World Women's Snooker Championship in 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2017/aug/25/vidya-pillai-still-running-for-cover-despite-laurels-galore-in-womens-snooker-1647955.html|title=Vidya Pillai still running for cover despite laurels galore in women's snooker|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=2017-08-26|archive-date=26 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826155041/http://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2017/aug/25/vidya-pillai-still-running-for-cover-despite-laurels-galore-in-womens-snooker-1647955.html|url-status=live}} She is also a 9-time winner of the National Championship Title.

National career

Vidya Pillai credits former Indian international cricketer Hemang Badani for introducing her to the sport when she was aged 22, and the late national billiards champion, TG Kamala Devi, for inspiring her. Pillai is a ten-time Women's National Snooker Champion, her latest victory coming in 2020. She has finished runner-up in three different editions of the tournament, in 2006, 2009 and 2015. She also won the Indian National 6-Red Snooker Championship in 2013 & the Indian National 9-Ball Pool Championship in 2005.

In 2017 she was a part of the Chennai Strikers in the Indian Cue Masters League, where she was teamed up with Pankaj Advani for mixed doubles.{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/chennai-strikers-hyderabad-hustlers-win-in-indian-cue-masters-league/story-PWkkQ1ZPZOkRO6zlFzByqJ.html|title=Chennai Strikers, Hyderabad Hustlers win in Indian Cue Masters League|date=2017-08-20|work=hindustantimes|access-date=2017-08-26|language=en|archive-date=26 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826155810/http://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/chennai-strikers-hyderabad-hustlers-win-in-indian-cue-masters-league/story-PWkkQ1ZPZOkRO6zlFzByqJ.html|url-status=live}}

In 2018, Vidya started working with the acclaimed SightRight Accredited coach Pranit Ramchandani.

International career

Vidya Pillai made her first international appearance at the 2007 IBSF World Snooker Championship (Ladies) and lost in the quarter-finals.{{Cite web |url=http://www.live-stream-news.com/forum/main-forum/330 |title=2013 IBSF Team Snooker Women Finalists |access-date=14 January 2015 |archive-date=15 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115105053/http://www.live-stream-news.com/forum/main-forum/330 |url-status=live }} Ever since, she has won a gold medal in the IBSF World Team Snooker Championship in 2013, Gold in the IBSF Australian Women's Ranking Snooker Championship in 2016, Gold in the IBSF Australian Open Women's Snooker Championship in 2010, Two Silver medals in the IBSF World 6 Reds Snooker Championship Women in 2015 and 2016, one Silver in the IBSF World Team Snooker Championship in 2016, two Bronze medals IBSF World Snooker Championship in 2010 and 2012, one Bronze in the IBSF World Team Snooker Championship in 2014 and reached the semi-finals at the WLBSA World Billiards Championship in 2008.{{cite magazine |author= |title=Evans wins fourth consecutive title |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=37 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |issue=June 2008 }} She has also won a silver medal at the Asian Billiard Sport Championship held at Doha in 2016. She was runner-up to Ng On-yee at the WLBSA World Women's Snooker Championship in 2017.{{cite news |last=Chan |first=Kin-wa |date=20 March 2019 |title=Hong Kong's Ng On-yee regains world title after titanic final against Vidya Pillai |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2080351/hong-kongs-ng-yee-regains-world-title-after-titanic-final-against |work=South China Morning Post |access-date=29 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830085548/https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2080351/hong-kongs-ng-yee-regains-world-title-after-titanic-final-against |archive-date=30 August 2019 |url-status=live }}

Career honours

class="sortable wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+{{Sronly|Ranking event finals}}

scope="col" width="80"|Outcome

!scope="col" width="50"|Year

!scope="col" |Championship

!scope="col" |Opponent(s)

!scope="col" align="center" width="100"|Score

!scope="col" class="unsortable" width="30"|Ref.

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

|2003 || Indian National Snooker Championship || || || {{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/snooker-rossouw-makes-vidya-pillai-sweat-it-out/article6625367.ece|title=Snooker: Rossouw makes Vidya Pillai sweat it out|first=Ashwin|last=Achal|work=thehindu.com|access-date=31 March 2017|archive-date=1 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101003521/http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/snooker-rossouw-makes-vidya-pillai-sweat-it-out/article6625367.ece|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Advani, Vidya Pillai crowned champions|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/advani-vidya-pillai-crowned-champions/article5762133.ece|website=The Hindu|access-date=14 January 2015|archive-date=11 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311175638/http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/advani-vidya-pillai-crowned-champions/article5762133.ece|url-status=live}}

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2005 || Indian National Snooker Championship|| || || {{cite web |last=Gupta |first=Ravindra Kumar |title=Indian Queen of the Green |url=https://www.rkgsnooker.com/articles/indian-queen-of-the-green/token-30 |website=RKG Snooker |access-date=21 June 2022}}

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2005 ||Indian National 9-Ball Pool Championship|| || ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2005 || Indian National 8-Ball Pool Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2006 || Indian National Snooker Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2007 ||Indian National Snooker Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2007 ||Indian National 8-Ball Pool Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2008 ||Indian National Snooker Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2008 ||Indian National 8-Ball Pool Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2009 || Indian National Snooker Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2010 || Australian Open Women's Snooker Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2010 ||Indian National Snooker Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2010 || Indian National 6-Red Snooker Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2010 || Indian National 8-Ball Pool Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2012 ||Indian National Snooker Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2013 || IBSF World Team Snooker Championship (with {{flagathlete|Arantxa Sanchis|IND}}) || {{flagathlete|Ng On Yee|HKG}} {{flagathlete|and So Man Yan|HKG}} || 3-2 || {{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/snooker/billiards/Indian-women-win-team-title-in-World-Snooker-Championship/articleshow/23611499.cms|title=Indian women win team title in World Snooker Championship – Times of India|work=indiatimes.com|access-date=31 March 2017|archive-date=3 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303211114/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/snooker/billiards/Indian-women-win-team-title-in-World-Snooker-Championship/articleshow/23611499.cms|url-status=live}}

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2013 || Indian National 6-Red Snooker Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2013 ||Indian National Snooker Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2014||Indian National Snooker Championship || || || {{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/advani-vidya-pillai-crowned-champions/article5762133.ece|title=Advani, Vidya Pillai crowned champions|first=Y. B.|last=Sarangi|work=thehindu.com|access-date=31 March 2017|archive-date=11 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311175638/http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/advani-vidya-pillai-crowned-champions/article5762133.ece|url-status=live}}

scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2015 || IBSF 6 Reds snooker Snooker Championship || || || {{cite web|url=http://www.cuesportsindia.com/myweb/news/2015/n13.htm|title=Alok-Rafath wins bronze World Team Championships (Masters)|work=cuesportsindia.com|access-date=31 March 2017|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322203643/http://www.cuesportsindia.com/myweb/news/2015/n13.htm|url-status=live}}

scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2015|| Indian National Snooker Championship || {{flagathlete|Amee Kamani|IND}} || 2–4 || {{cite news |date=26 January 2015 |title=Advani captures senior national title |work=The Asian Age |page=35}}

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2016|| IBSF Australian Women's Ranking Snooker Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2016 || IBSF 6 Reds snooker Snooker Championship || {{flagathlete|Siripaporn Nuanthakhamjan|THA}} || ||

scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2016 || IBSF World Team Snooker Championship (with {{flagathlete|Amee Kamani|IND}} || {{flagathlete|Ng On Yee|HKG}} and {{flagathlete|Ka Kai Wan|HKG}} || || {{cite web |last=Pathak |first=Vivek |title=Successful completion of 2016 World 6Red and Team Snooker |url=https://www.ibsf.info/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=516:successful-completion-of-2016-world-6red-and-team-snooker&Itemid=382 |website=IBSF |date=4 August 2015 |access-date=21 June 2022}}

scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2016 || Asian Billiard Sports Championship|| || ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2016|| Indian National Snooker Championship || {{flagathlete|Amee Kamani|IND}} || 4–2 || {{cite news |date=2 February 2016 |title=Lucky is state's best |work=Deccan Chronicle |page=39 }}

scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2016 || Indian National 6-Red Snooker Championship|| {{flagathlete|Amee Kamani|IND}} || 1–4 ||{{cite news |date=7 January 2016 |title=Chawla, Kamani emerge champs |work=The Free Press Journal |page=17 }}

scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2017||World Women's Snooker Championship||{{flagathlete|Ng On-yee|HKG}} || 5–6||{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/snooker/billiards/vidya-pillai-pots-silver-in-women-world-snooker/articleshow/57729109.cms|title=Vidya Pillai pots silver in Women World Snooker – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2017-03-22|archive-date=30 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830230111/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/snooker/billiards/vidya-pillai-pots-silver-in-women-world-snooker/articleshow/57729109.cms|url-status=live}}

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2020 ||Indian National Snooker Championship || {{flagathlete|Amee Kamani|IND}} || 3–2 || {{cite magazine |last=Stead |first=Marcus|title=Tournament Winners|magazine=Snooker Scene |page=20 |publisher=Snooker Scene Ltd |issue=March 2020 }}

References

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pillai, Vidya}}

Category:1977 births

Category:Living people

Category:Indian snooker players

Category:Loyola College, Chennai alumni

Category:Sportspeople from Chennai

Category:Female snooker players

Category:Sportswomen from Tamil Nadu

Category:Cue sports players at the 2006 Asian Games

Category:Cue sports players at the 2010 Asian Games

Category:Cue sports players from Tamil Nadu

Category:Asian Games competitors for India

Category:People from Tiruchirappalli