Former IBSF World Champion Pankaj Advani [Images] has opted out of the Asian Under-21 Snooker Championship, to be held in Bangkok from April 18-24, to concentrate on academics.

In his absence, Maharashtra's Aditya Mehta would lead the Indian challenge in the week-long event.

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Ayush Kumar of Punjab would replace Advani in the three-member squad to be coached by Sanjay Sawant, Billiards and Snooker Federation of India Vice President R K Tandon said. Rishabh Thakkar is the third member of the team.

Advani, who was considered one of the favourites to lift the crown, will be preparing for his second year B. Com examination which is to be held immediately after the event.

"If I do not give the exam now then I will have to give it in October. It is most likely that the exam will then clash with some major internationals events and so I decided to opt out of the Thailand event and concentrate on studying for the exam," Advani said over phone from Bangalore.

The 20-year-old, who won the Asian as well as the double World Billiards Crown at the beginning of the year, would now return to the table during the Asian Snooker qualifiers to be held in Mumbai in June.

In the absence of Advani in the Asian meet, all hopes would rest on Mehta, who is no novice at the international level. The cueist from Mumbai had finished third in the last edition of the competition in Malaysia and also reached the quarterfinals of the World Under-21 event last year.

He has been placed in group D, while Thakkar and Ayush would begin their campaign in Group E and C respectively.