Anupama Ramachandran, aged 23 and hailing from Chennai, has carved her name into sporting history by becoming India’s first-ever Woman World Snooker Champion.
She claimed this landmark title after defeating Hong Kong great Ng On Yee 3-2 in a tense final at the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Doha, Qatar.
Her win has drawn widespread praise from sporting officials and the Indian government, who have called it a “watershed moment” for women in cuesports. Ramachandran’s victory is not only a personal triumph but opens new doors for female athletes nationwide.
Anupama’s Grit and Drama at the Green Baize
The final on November 13, 2025, was a riveting spectacle marked by fluctuating fortunes. Ramachandran fought back from behind twice and kept her cool in an edge-of-the-seat decider.
With the match level at two frames apiece and the scores at a nail-biting 60-61, Ng On Yee missed a regulation black ball, giving Ramachandran a golden opportunity.
Seizing the moment, she potted the final black to win India its maiden women’s world snooker crown. “Anupama’s discipline and calm under pressure set her apart as a champion,” said BSFI Secretary Suresh Kumar.
Her family and coach K. Narayanan called her victory a “dream realised for the sport and for girls across India”.
The Journey from Chennai Tables to World Glory
Anupama’s rise wasn’t overnight; it’s the result of years of hard work and overcoming obstacles often faced by women athletes in India. She trained under expert guidance from her uncle, K. Narayanan, and won eight national junior titles early in her career. Her international breakthrough arrived with the World Open Under-16 Snooker Championship in Russia (2017).
In 2023, she won the World Women’s Under-21 title and, later that year, the Women’s Snooker World Cup in Thailand. By 2024, she reached world event finals, including defeating reigning world number one Mink Nutcharut at the US Women’s Open.
In March 2025, she achieved a career-best world ranking of number six. Her journey is marked by resilience, setbacks, and a growing network of supporters advocating for more investment and visibility in women’s cuesports.
Anupama Ramachandran, born in Chennai in 2002, is India’s pioneering woman world snooker champion whose journey from a casual summer billiards workshop to the pinnacle of global cuesports is nothing short of inspiring.
She picked up her first cue at the age of 13 at Mylapore Club during a school break, quickly revealing a natural aptitude that prompted her family and mentors to encourage a professional path.
By 15, she was competing across India, sweeping eight national junior titles and capturing attention for her disciplined approach and mental resilience.
With dedicated guidance from her uncle K. Narayanan-a sports performance specialist-she sharpened her technical and strategic skills, which proved central to her rapid advancement.
Anupama’s international breakthrough arrived in 2017 with a win at the IBSF Under-16 Women’s Snooker Championship in Russia. Her consistent success continued as she claimed the Women’s Snooker World Cup alongside Amee Kamani (2023), the Asian Snooker Championship (2024), and the World Women’s Under-21 title.
By 2025, she had reached a career-high world ranking of six and finally etched her name in history as India’s first woman to win the IBSF World Snooker Championship after a dramatic 3-2 victory against Hong Kong’s Ng On Yee.
Her journey, defined by determination, strong family support, and a series of comeback wins, stands as a beacon for women in Indian sport.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Anupama Ramachandran’s feat signals a new era for Indian womankind in sport, shattering old ceilings.
Her example shows the difference that structured support, expert coaching, and belief in oneself can create.
The Logical Indian urges sporting bodies to build on this momentum: fund grassroots programmes, offer safe spaces for girls, and make cuesports aspirational for all.
