Wilson Jones (billiards player)
Born | British India | 2 May 1922
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Died | 4 October 2003 Mumbai | (aged 81)
Sport country | ![]() |
Wilson Lionel Garton-Jones (2 May 1922 – 4 October 2003) was a professional player of English billiards from India. Jones, a dominant national amateur champion for more than a decade, won the amateur world championship twice, in 1958 and 1964. He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1963, the Padma Shri Award in 1965, and the Dronacharya Award in 1996. He was the first Indian to be a World champion in any sport.[1][2][3][4]
Jones, an
Jones' first World Billiards Championship was in London in 1951. In Calcutta in 1952, he won only one match, against Ameen Yunoos of Burma. He failed in the next Championship in Sydney in 1954 as well but it gave him a chance to spend time with Walter Lindrum.[6]
On his fourth attempt, on 11 December 1958 Jones won the
This was followed up by another world title in 1964 in New Zealand.[8] After retirement, Jones moved on to coaching, and mentored professional champions such
In 2003, Jones died following a heart attack.[12]
References
- ^ "When Wilson Jones first brought the world billiards to India". The Times of India. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ "Billiards and snooker - Sidelined sports that need attention". Tuheen Kushal. SportsKeeda. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ISBN 978-81-7028-852-7. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ISBN 978-81-207-4074-7. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ISBN 978-1-64249-767-0. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d PN Sundaresan, The humble champion of the green baize, Sportsweek, 12–18 June 1985, pp 38-41
- ^ Cuesports India
- ^ "Geoff's tribute to his dad: Wilson Jones". The Times of India. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ "Wilson Jones world title remembered with pomp". The Times of India. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ "Independent India's first world sporting champ remembered". Aipsmedia. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ "No. 14: Wilson Jones is billiards world champion". ESPN. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ "Wilson Jones passes into history". The Hindu. 6 October 2003. Archived from the original on 6 December 2003. Retrieved 8 May 2018.