“I have already spoken to Chembur Gymkhana, Bombay Gymkhana and I’m sure Islam Gymkhana will never turn down my offer of having four events for the junior players. I’m still looking to finalise the venue for the fourth event,” informed Merchant on the sidelines of a press meet to announce the launch of the Yasin Merchant Doubles Classic Snooker Tournament, which gets underway from Thursday.

Merchant says it is the need of the hour to have a tournament for juniors. “We really don’t have good events for junior snooker enthusiasts. That’s why we don’t see many youngsters taking up the sport. We need to provide them competition if the game has to grow,” says Merchant, who was part of the bronze medal winning Indian team at the Doha Asian Games in 2006.

Merchant feels the dearth of junior tournaments is also making life difficult for existing youngsters. “In the absence of such events, these upcoming players find it difficult to get approval from their parents to have extended practice hours at the table. Parents ask them what is the need for practice when there are no events to participate in,” observed Merchant.

Merchant, who turned professional in 1992, says he is satisfied with what he has achieved so far and now would like to focus more on promoting the green baize sport. “I want to curtail my participation in events so that I would have more time for promoting the game. The four events that I’m planning to conduct this year, are a step in that direction,” says the man who has had perhaps the most successful stint by an Indian in the Professional Snooker League in Britain.

Talking about the Yasin Merchant Doubles Classic Snooker Tournament, Merchant emphasises that he would feel really bad if he won this event. “I’m afraid, it would send out the wrong signals. But that doesn’t mean that I would not make a serious attempt to go for a win,” said Merchant. “More so ever as I have no right to dampen my partner Alok Kumar’s spirit. I’m sure our team - Indian Lions - will put up a creditable show in the event,” he added.