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They havent heard of Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli. But the mention of Indian movies elicits more than just broad smiles and approving nods: PK, PK! exclaims Chit Ko Ko.The 32 year-old from Myanmar, along with his senior compatriot Aung Htay, 50, is participating in the World Billiards Championship, currently underway in Bengaluru, for the first time. English isnt one of the languages either players speak and travelling coach-cum-manager Zerne Aung Than doubles up as interpreter on most occasions.Lorded over by the oppressive military junta for close to five decades, the struggle for freedom, human rights and peace took centrestage in Myanmar. Sport, has at best, been a diversion in the strife-torn nation.Ranked No 1 and 2 respectively in the country, Htay and Ko Ko, who hail from Yangoon, admit that billiards is far from a popular sport in Myanmar and certainly not enough to sustain their families. While Htay, who lost to Pankaj Advani in the semifinals on Monday to finish with a bronze (points format), is an engineer by profession and holds a government job, Ko Ko, runs the family hardware store when he finds time off from the sport.Leaning forward, hands resting on the table, they listen intently at the questions asked, nodding at occasional familiar-sounding English words before Than takes over. Football and Manchester United are near-synonymous in the country, says Than, conveying the more passionate fan of the three, Ko Kos enthusiasm. Leithwei, a form of unarmed martial art, similar to kickboxing, is another favourite with the locals, he adds.Myanmar has little over 40 billiards players today with close to five of them in the top 100. The pacier format of snooker as opposed to billiards has found far more takers, particularly among youngsters in the country. The interest, however, is largely limited to being a recreational one.Pursuing a cue sport isnt seen as a serious career option. Snooker players number no more than 30 in the country. Over the past decade, Than says, there has been a spurt in interest for snooker, largely due to the mushrooming of pool parlours. Youngsters love snooker, he says, Its fast.Sponsors are hard to come by and players depend largely on the national federation for funding their playing expenses, which includes footing the travel cost for tournaments. Sponsors are reluctant to invest in a sport thats not popular enough, says Than, So the federation is the sole source of funds for players. Its tough.The non-physical nature of billiards was what appealed to Ko Ko as a teen. It helped that he had a pool parlour in the neighbourhood, whetting his interest for the sport. Its not too exacting physically, he says, Concentration and composure are the foremost traits needed for the sport. I think Ive both. For Htay, whos spent over the three decades playing billiards now, it began with his father, who had some knowledge of the sport, handing him a cue.Having known each other for close to seven years now, Htay and Ko Ko are more than familiar with each others playing styles and occasionally find themselves pitted against each other at tournaments. Like this time. Htay beat Ko Ko in the pre-quarterfinals (long up format) of the tournament last week.?There are no hard feelings, says Ko Ko, We knew only one of us can make the quarterfinals. Htays run ended in the quarterfinals after a loss to Dhvaj Haria. Admittedly in the twilight of his playing career, Htay wants to win the Asian championship title before he retires. Ko Ko, whos yet to have a major international win to his name, nods to convey a similar dream.In September this year, Htay, the most accomplished billiards player from his country among the current crop, finished with silver in his seventh appearance at the Asian billiards championship. He also has two gold and five silver medals to his credit so far from the South East Asian Games.As the conversation meanders to the next rung of billiards players in the country and chances of a possible spike in interest, Htay shakes his head disapprovingly before putting forth a brutally honest observation. Its not a sport I would encourage youth of our country to take up. You cannot feed your family with its earnings. Theres no money in it, he says.The silence that followed the loaded statement is broken by an animated Ko Ko, punching his fist into the air. Having heard him out, a clueless Than turns to me and asks, Hes talking of an Indian movie he loved. Its about a female boxer. Any idea? The answer wasnt obviously tough. Mary Kom?, I suggest, as Ko Ko jumps up from his chair excitedly to affirm, unmindful of the five-time world champions existence beyond the movie realm. Custom New England Patriots Jerseys . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. New England Patriots Pro Shop . JOHNS, N. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/ . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. Patriots Jerseys China . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. Stitched Patriots Jerseys . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. NORMAN, Okla. -- With his best receiver sidelined, Baker Mayfield still boosted his Heisman Trophy resume.Mayfield passed for 288 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 9 Oklahoma defeated No. 10 Oklahoma State 38-20 on Saturday in a matchup that decided the Big 12 champion and likely guaranteed the Sooners a trip to the Sugar Bowl.Mayfield performed well throughout, despite finishing the game without Biletnikoff Award finalist Dede Westbrook. The speedster caught four passes for 111 yards before being knocked out of the game in the second quarter on a crushing hit by Oklahoma State safety Jordan Sterns. Mayfield threw two touchdown passes after Westbrook left the game, and the offense didnt miss a beat, finishing with 629 yards.He was just fantastic, he was just exactly what he needed to be, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said of Mayfield. He gave our guys chances to make plays, he handled the ball great himself, had a few key runs for us, threw the ball. The guys really, really talented. To be able to do what he did, theres not many guys who could do what he did today.Mayfield finished fourth in the Heisman balloting last year, but he didnt get an invitation to New York for the ceremony. He wants to go this year, and he wants Westbrook to get an invitation, too.After the game, Mayfield wore a pin from the school with both his and Westbrooks names on it. Mayfield crossed out his own name with a marker to make sure Westbrook wasnt forgotten.Dede is the best player in the country, Mayfield said. I still want to hold Dedes hand all the way to New York.Mayfield should be a Heisman front-runner heading into next season, too. He said after the game that he plans to return for his senior season.Coming back, be here for another year, he said. Opportunity for a three-peat (Big 12). The ultimate goal is why I came here -- to win a national title.Samaje Perine rambled for 239 yards on a career-high 37 carries and Joe Mixon caught a touchdown pass and busted a 79-yard touchdown run for the Sooners (10-2, 9-0 Big 112, No.dddddddddddd 9 College Football Playoff).It was the second straight time the teams met in the regular-season finale to determine the conference champion. Oklahoma beat the Cowboys 58-23 last season.In this years showdown, Mason Rudolph completed just 11 of 25 passes for 186 yards for Oklahoma State (9-3, 7-2, No. 10 CFP). His top target for the season, James Washington, caught just two passes for 50 yards on eight targets.Just a rough day, Rudolph said. Ill take all the responsibility for the lack of production, especially in the second half. Obviously, it needed to be better.THE TAKEAWAYOKLAHOMA STATE: It was an especially bitter defeat for the Cowboys, who have become so close to turning the tide against their biggest rival. The Cowboys, who last won the Big 12 in 2011, fell to 2-10 against the Sooners under coach Mike Gundy. Even with Westbrook out and Perine being knocked out briefly after a helmet-to-helmet hit, the Cowboys couldnt keep the momentum.They made too many big plays, Sterns said. Thats a great football team with big playmakers.OKLAHOMA: The Sooners added a second straight win over a highly ranked opponent, but it likely wasnt enough to get them into the College Football playoff for the second straight year.Probably, realistically, more needed to happen last week to give ourselves a better opportunity, but thats past, Stoops said. Whatever theyre going to decide, theyll decide.POLL IMPLICATIONSOKLAHOMA STATE: Likely wont fall too far with a road loss against a Top 10 team , especially with so many other top teams playing each other.OKLAHOMA: Not much space to move up. The Sooners were already ahead of Colorado, which lost to Washington on Friday.UP NEXTOKLAHOMA STATE: Bowl game to be determined.OKLAHOMA: The Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2 unless the Sooners make the College Football Playoff.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP . ' ' '