• In 2005, Kothari was honoured with Major Dhyan Chand Award, India’s highest lifetime achievement award in sports, by  the Government of India (GoI), in recognition of his exceptional contributions in sports specifically in billiards.

• What? Passing away of former World Billiards Champion
• Who? Manoj Kothari
• Won IBSF World Tiles: 2-times (1st in 1990) and (World Doubles Billiards Championship in 1997)
• Sports Honour: Major Dhyan Chand Award (in 2005)

About Manoj Kothari:
Two-time World Champion: Kothari won his career’s maiden International Billiards & Snooker Federation. (IBSF) World Billiards Championship title in 1990 that placed him firmly among the elite of the sport.

• Later, he won the World Doubles Billiards Championship title in 1997 with Ian Williamson (England),which reflected both his longevity and versatility at the highest level.

National Coach: Post his retirement, Kothari served as the national coach of the Indian billiards team from 2011, a position held for more than a decade and a half.
Awards/Accolades:

• During his long career, Kothari won the State Champion title 16 times.
• He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the IBSF in 2025.
• In addition to these, he was honoured by the West Bengal (WB) with Kriraguru Samman and also the Calcutta Sports Journalists Club conferred him with a Lifetime Achievement award.