Calcutta: Sourav Kothari overcame a stiff challenge from former World Billiards champion Praprut Chaitanasakun of Thailand to win the gold medal in the Asian Indoor Games, in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

This is the first medal in cue sports in this year’s competition. Displaying grit and determination, Kothari won the match 3-1.

He capitalised on a last minute error by Praprut, who needed just 20 points to win the frame. Coming from behind, the Indian braved the early jitters and pressure of the big final to win the first frame by 100-80 points.

Building on the good start, Kothari went out all guns blazing into the second game, even as a visibly edgy Praprut gave the Indian an opportunity to make a dent.

Kothari never looked back, grabbing the opportunity to record an unfinished break of 101 points to seal the second frame (101-0) and take a dominating 2-0 lead.

In the third game, Praprut put Kothari  under pressure. A regulation canon missed by Kothari handed a brilliant opportunity to Praprut, who steadily went on to construct a break of 57 points and managed to win the third game 101-29.

Kothari was caught off-guard and the pressure was back on him as Praprut yet again started building a break after both the players missed a couple of openings in the fourth game.