Daijiworld Media Network - Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli, Jan 6: Former world billiards champion and one of the most influential figures in Indian cue sports, Manoj Kothari, passed away on Monday following a massive cardiac arrest at a hospital in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. He was 67.
A family member told PTI that Kothari, who was the current chief national coach, had been undergoing treatment at the hospital for over a week and suffered cardiac arrest around 7.30 am. His last rites were performed later in the evening near Tirunelveli.
Kothari is survived by his wife, son Sourav Kothari — himself a former world billiards champion — and daughter Shreya Kothari.
A towering presence in Indian billiards for more than three decades, Kothari first rose to global prominence after winning the IBSF World Billiards Championship in 1990, a landmark achievement that enhanced India’s stature in the sport. He further underlined his excellence by winning the World Doubles Billiards Championship in 1997.
After retiring from competitive play, Kothari made a lasting impact as a coach and mentor. He served as the chief coach of the Indian billiards team from 2011 for over a decade, guiding multiple world champions and shaping several generations of cueists.
His influence was most evident in the career of his son Sourav, whom he mentored not just as a father but also as a technical coach and strategist. Together, they became the only father-son duo to win world titles in any sport.
In recognition of his contribution to Indian sports, Kothari was honoured with the Dhyan Chand Award in 2005, presented by then President A P J Abdul Kalam.
The Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) condoled his death. BSFI president S Balasubramaniam said Kothari’s demise was a huge loss to the cue sports fraternity.
Sourav Kothari described his father as a living legend whose selfless service produced many champions. “His impact went far beyond titles and trophies. He inspired many lives,” he said, adding that a mourning service will be held in Kolkata.
Sourav later went on to carve out a distinguished career, winning his maiden world title in 2018 and the IBSF World Billiards Championship in 2025, along with several Asian and national honours.