Pankaj Advani edged Pushpender Singh 11-9 in a tense men’s final to complete a double at the National pool championship in Ludhiana. Chitra Magimairaj also secured a double, beating Neena Praveen 6-4 in the women’s final. Both players showed composure under pressure to clinch their respective 10-ball titles.

Ludhiana (Punjab): Green baize baron Pankaj Advani played the big points well under pressure to edge out a fighting Pushpender Singh for a memorable double in his maiden pool Nationals at the Rotary Bhawan here on Saturday.

In the men’s final of the 10-ball pool event, where fortunes fluctuated like a pendulum, PSPB’s Advani had to score a come-from-behind 11-9 win over his RSPB rival.

A little later at the adjacent table, fellow Bengalurean Chitra Magimairaj rallied splendidly to overcome Neena Praveen of Tamil Nadu 6-4 in the women’s final to complete an impressive double.

The men’s final was a match of small margins. Although Pushpender got off the blocks in a rousing manner, Advani, who annexed the 9-ball title a few days ago, fought back in splendid fashion to draw level at 3-3 in the race-to-11 affair.