How Wilson Jones Became Independent India’s First World Champion

Wilson Jones was a boy from Pune who loved watching people play billiards.

He learned the game by observing his uncle from outside a saloon because he was too young to enter.

During the war, he worked in a factory and practiced whenever he could.

Later, his job at the docks made serious training difficult.

Businessman R. K. Vissanji gave him a steady job and helped pay for his training and competitions.

Jones became one of India’s best billiards players.

He tried three times to win the world championship and did not succeed.

In 1958, he finally won the title in Calcutta.

This made him independent India’s first individual world champion in any sport.