Karthik Ramaswamy
Introduction
Hi, I’m Karthik. I play billiards and am lucky enough to have the opportunity to represent Singapore on the global stage.
Outside of the sport majority of my time goes towards work / family commitments but I do still manage to sneak in a movie every now and then!
What bring you to the sport and by whose influence
Doesn’t feel that long ago but it’s been around 25 years since I first picked up a cue. My Dad used to the play to a reasonably high standard and I’d follow him down to the club early on.
I even have vivid memories of standing on a chair and rolling balls on the table on Sunday mornings when I wasn’t tall enough to reach the table yet.
How long have you been in the sport
I’ve been playing off and on for over 25 years now – competing at the regional, national and at the international level now.
It’s been a great journey and the great thing about the game is you never stop learning. The level of complexity inherent in the game ensures more than enough opportunity to be creative and express yourself in your own unique way.
The great thing about Billiards is that you don’t age out of the sport as long as you take care of your body so there is always the opportunity to learn and improve!
What are the challenges you faced
Time commitment to the sport has been a challenge as it hasn’t been commercially viable in the past to pursue it as much as I would have liked to.
The spex program ought to help greatly there as it would provide much needed support so I can compete with the best in the world on a regular basis and continue to get better.
What are some goals you hope to achieve in the next 3 to 5 years in your sporting career
Hoping to translate the Silver from the 2025 SEA Games into Gold at the upcoming editions.
Gradually rise up in the world rankings with consistent deeper runs in World Billiards events.
Billiards will likely also make a comeback at the 2029 Asian Games in Qatar – something special to work towards. Singapore will also host the 2029 SEA Games so it would be great to stand on top of the podium on home soil.
