WDBS release new video to showcase players and sport
World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) has released a new short film to highlight the organisation's significant growth and events. Recorded across two recent events in Preston and Northampton, the video features a number of disabled snooker players who talk about their positive experiences of competing at WDBS tournaments.
WDBS was founded in 2015 by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) to provide opportunities for disabled people to play snooker competitively. Players are classified under eight disability groups, based upon the Profiling Toolkit resource created by Activity Alliance.
Among those featured, Robert Craft, who is visually impaired, explains how welcoming he finds the events. He is involved in a number of other capacities in addition to his playing career, including BSL signing and refereeing matches. Nitesh Chavda, who is deaf, discusses the knowledge he has gained from coaching sessions held on the Friday of each weekend event, while Kal Mattu describes the WDBS team of players and officials as “one family.”
Chris Hornby, WPBSA Sport Development Manager said:
“For me the video demonstrates the community feel of WDBS events. WDBS prides itself on welcoming every player with any disability. Hearing each player’s story and the joy the events bring to them encourages myself and the WDBS board to work harder to make events bigger and better for players.
“Snooker is a sport for all and we hope those who are perhaps unsure of coming to our events and watch this feature will be inspired to come and give it a try.”
Filmed and edited by Jamie Hyde, the video features Mickey Chambers (Group 4), Robert Craft (Group 7), Kal Mattu (Group 3), Niteshk Chavda (Group 8), Lee Finbow (Group 8), Lewis Knowles (Group 8), Christof Niklaus (Group 8), William Thomson (Group 3) and BSL interpreter Yvonne Gouldingay.
