In A First For His State, Mizo Lad Cues Up For Glory

By Siddhartha Sharma

Unassuming 19-year-old Lalrinsanga Renthlei is close to a ‘first’ but wears the pathbreaker tag lightly.

‘Rina,’ as the Mizo cueist is known amongst friends, finished third in the 8-ball pool event at the National championships in Ludhiana this month, thereby making it to the India probables camp at Bangalore from April 17.

A good show there may well see Rina becoming the first cueist from his state to wear Indian colors at next month’s World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

It will be the high point in a career that had a less than ideal beginning. Pool entered Mizoram much as a fad in 2000, and the seedy parlors that mushroomed quickly acquired an unsavory reputation.

Only nine-year-old then, Rina was an upcoming basketball player who only went to the parlors on the insistence of his team mates, who were regulars.

“I too started developing interest and started improving as well. Of course, my family was completely against it ,” he recalls.

Rina’s game improved and, two years later, he had defeated the local 8-ball champion.

Much of what Rina learnt was self taught, although he readily admits he got help from a Steve Davis, multiple pool world champion, coaching DVD provided by then Mizoram Sports Minister Zodintluanga.

“That DVD had just the basic coaching techniques. So I kept following the DVD and kept improving from it for an entire year,” Rina told The Indian Express from Aizawl.

But just when his game was on the upswing, he put it on the back burner. Studies took over as pool took a backseat for the next five years.

However, he continued playing basketball, even representing his state in the National Games, until severe ankle injuries forced him to quit.

Relighting the fire

It was then that Rina stepped back into the pool hall and picked up a cue stick. That was in 2009, but instead of having to start afresh, Rina simply picked up from where he had left, making it to the top 32 in the 8-and 9-ball pool nationals last year.

Seeing his talent, help arrived soon after in the form of national coach, Mukesh Rehani, who is all praise for his ward.

“I am lucky to have found such a talent. Though I haven’t touched his technique yet, I think he can be shaped into a fine player in the coming years,” Rehani said.

Rina is struggling for financial assistance. With his mother the only earning member for the family, buying equipment is a problem.

Rina was contacted by various petroleum companies but no sponsorship came through.

“I will keep trying.

It is a challenge for me to keep performing at the highest level so that I get sponsored. And even if I don’t, I will continue playing pool,” Rina signs off.