Newly-crowned world billiards champion Sourav Kothari Friday hoped that cue sport's bid to be included in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris is successful.
The World Confederation of Billiards Sports -- the body representing snooker, billiards and carom -- is making a bid for Olympic recognition.
The WCBS hopes the combined cue sports bid is in a significantly stronger position than the snooker one which failed for the Tokyo 2020 Games.
"Snooker is massively popular in Europe and in many parts of the world and it should be included in Olympics," Kothari said here.
He hoped the inclusion in the quadrennial extravaganza will help them get more recognition in a country obsessed with the Olympics.
"We are performing all the time but out country has an obsession with Olympic sports. Everywhere, whatever platform you go to, there are pushed in front," he said.
He urged other associations to take a cue from the Indian Cricket Board.
"What BCCI has done for cricket is amazing. You cannot blame cricket for anything. If cricket was not there, IPL would not have come. Now franchise based leagues are everywhere."