The 22-year-old Bangalorean is one of two sportsmen named in this year’s awards list. Kabaddi player B C Suresh is the other.

“A perfect birthday present for mom,” Advani told his family from Macau on hearing about the award on Monday.

His mother Kajal’s birthday fell on Monday. “I feel honoured,” added Advani, who is part of the Indian contingent competing in the Asian Indoor Games in Macau. That assignment means Advani won’t be in India when the awards are presented on November 1. Having made headlines on winning his second World billiards title in Singapore last month, Advani made even bigger news when he turned down the Ekalavya award, upset with the lack of recognition in his home state, which was quick to shower cash prizes on stars in some other disciplines.
The affable champion shot into limelight when he won the World snooker title in China as a 17-year-old. the promising youngster let his cue do the talking. He won the National, the Asian and both the World billiards titles — time and points format — two years ago. Advani followed it up with the Asian Games singles gold last December. Despite this long list, time and again he has been overlooked by the State government.