Billiards and Snooker Federation of India

The Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) is the central authority overseeing the growth and development of cue sports in India. Visionaries like M.M. Begg were instrumental in the foundation of the Federation way back in 1926. Since its inception, the BSFI has been operating from Calcutta except for a brief period of four years, when it was housed in Bombay. BFSI since then have worked constantly towards increasing the popularity and acceptance of the game in the country. It is the result of its constant effort that now people in India have started recognizing the sport on a mass level.

In a country like India where sports other than cricket take long time to gain foothold, Billiards too has its share of struggle. The major setback in the popularity to the sport is the fact that it is regarded as the sports of affluent and elite in the country. There is a popular view that billiards is not meant for common men. So in order to make cue sports more appealing vis-�-vis other games in India, the BSFI has undertaken a number of promotional activities including organizing national championships at the sub-junior level. Moreover former greats like Michael Ferreira have been roped in by the Indian Billiards Federation to advice on the present format of the National Championships.

Taking a cue from the parent body BSFI, a number of state associations have been playing an active role to promote the game among youngsters. Various regional training camps are being organized by BSFI and its regional counterparts in order to trace the budding raw talent and provide it with sponsorship and funds in order to excel in this game. It has been the result of these ground level efforts that youngsters in the country have gradually started developing interest in this game.

Apart from working hard for the popularity of billiards, the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) have also worked in increasing the popularity of other cue sports in India. The federation is currently accredited from various national and international sports organizations like Indian Olympic Association, Asian Confederation of Billiards sport, International Billiards and Snooker Federation, World Federation of Billiards Sports, and the Asian Carom Billiards Confederation.