India’s Heyball revolution: Pranit Ramchandani guides Vidya Pillai to Commonwealth glory
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE
With Heyball rapidly emerging as the most exciting new cuesport in the world and moving steadily towards Olympic inclusion, Pranit J Ramchandani has become the face of India’s Heyball revolution. A world ranked player, internationally certified coach, sport promoter and founder of the Heyball Academy in Bangalore, Pranit has played a pioneering role in launching and developing the sport in India.
His most recent success came just days ago when his student, Vidya Pillai, won Gold at the Commonwealth Cuesports Championship in Mauritius, marking a major international breakthrough for India in Heyball. Competing against top talent from around the world, Vidya’s dominant performance highlighted both her commitment and the quiet technical transformation she has undergone under Pranit’s guidance.
“I started coaching Vidya back in 2018,” said Pranit, adding: “We’ve worked across multiple formats — snooker, 9 ball, 10 ball — and now Heyball. She recently made the decision to fully transition into Heyball and the results are already speaking for themselves.”
Together, Pranit and Vidya have already won titles in World and National Snooker, National 9 Ball, 10 Ball, and now Commonwealth Gold in Heyball.
To support India’s long term growth in the sport, Pranit established the Heyball Academy in Bangalore — the country’s first and only facility equipped with official Joy Heyball tables, the very same used in international competition.
In 2024, Pranit also brought the inaugural WPA World Junior Heyball Championship to India, hosting over 32 countries and officially launching the sport on home soil.
