Mic and Magic with Manan

Today on Mic & Magic, Manan sits down with someone who proved that history doesn't always come from the people you expect. Anupama Ramachandran picked up a snooker cue at a summer camp when she was just 13 years old. Ten years later, with one perfect shot in 11 seconds, she became the first Indian woman to win the World Snooker Championship.In this episode, Manan explores how a young woman from Tamil Nadu broke into a sport long considered "a man's game" in a country that most people don't even associate with cue sports. Anupama opens up about her first century break, the cue she had custom-made in Bangkok, the coaches who shaped her game, the lonely lockdown years that quietly built her into a world champion, and what it felt like to carry the Tamil Nadu flag at the National Games. She also shares something many young athletes need to hear: snooker isn't just about pocketing balls. It is about reading the table, sequencing your shots, trusting yourself in the silence between moves, and adapting to a new table in a new country in 15 minutes flat. That lesson travels far beyond the green felt.This episode is for every kid in India who has been told their sport is "too small," every girl who has been told the game is not for her, and every dreamer who has ever stood at a table — sport, school, life — and wondered if they had what it takes to line up the next shot.In this episode, you'll learn:Why the difference between snooker and billiards matters more than most people realiseWhat really happens during the 11 seconds before a championship-winning shotWhy the 15 Red format is considered the truest form of snooker (and why shorter formats exist)How Anupama used the lockdown years to quietly build a world champion's gameThe story behind her first competitive century break — and the rival who inspired itHow the MIMS (Mission International Medal Scheme) is helping Indian athletes compete globallyWhy "adaptability" is the real name of the game in international competitionThe bow-tie debate: should snooker keep its old-school tradition or move on?What hay ball is, and why Anupama is learning a brand new sport at the top of her careerWhat excites her most about the future of cue sports in IndiaAbout our guest — Anupama Ramachandran:First Indian woman in 95 years to win the IBSF Women's World Snooker Championship (15 Red format)World ranked No. 68 national junior titlesFlag bearer for Tamil Nadu at the National Games, GoaHighest competitive break: 119Highest practice break: 139ABOUT MIC & MAGIC WITH MANANThis is a podcast hosted by young India's most curious interviewer — bringing you honest, inspiring conversations with the country's rising sports stars, achievers,  and changemakers. New episodes drop every fortnight at 7 AM.SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss the next conversation: www.youtube.com/ @micandmagicpodcastFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/mic.and.magicListen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/1kbEtEA5YS6sES1shYvBJLListen on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/mic-and-magic-with manan/id1835196806Twitter/Xx.com/micandmagicWrite to us - Email: [email protected]