Doctor on board to treat carrom
Sri Lanka Carrom Federation, a busy sports body engaged in various tournaments right round the year came under a new management at the Annual General Meeting held recently.
Ranked No.1 in the world, Nishantha Fernando is one of Sri Lanka’s prides in carrom. But the time has come for Carrom Federation officials to look beyond - File pic
Dr. Prasad Samarasinghe
A game which catches popularity fast specially among the schoolboys and girls was shown at the last Nationals where the youngsters created huge upsets in toppling ranked players.
Sri Lanka can boast of World No.1 ranked player in Nishantha Fernando and many slicers who brought credit to the country in international appearances.
Sri Lanka won the team events medal in France in 2008 and in 2012 Nishantha Fernando won the world’s singles championship and winning the Asian plum in many occasions.
Carrom Federation conducts at least eight tournaments per year – All Island Junior Inter Club, Ranking, the President’s Cup, Federation Cup, Junior and Senior Nationals, midyear novices and Lanka Plate to name a few.
As the carrom players were engaged in the game throughout the year was evident that in every international exposure our slicers always kept the national flag flying high.
When the Sunday Times contacted the incumbent President of the Carrom Federation Dr. Prasad Samarasinghe he said as his term is for two years he will be concentrating in long term plans to have more stakeholders in universities and in schools to broad based the game.
The other stakeholders that he is planning to have are umpires and sports clubs. Samarasinghe plans to increase the membership from 60 to at least 200 clubs in his term.
The president is also having plans to include representatives from schools, universities and the forces to the ex-co to have more participation in the game. Introducing new technology to the game is another target that the President is aiming at.
In short term his attention is on Sri Lanka’s participation in the International Carrom Federation Cup to be held in New Delhi. All top ranked players are hard at practice and Sri Lanka will be represented by eight top class slicers including both men and women.
The final selection will be done once the Sports Ministry gives the approval for its selection committee soon. In collaboration with the Nugegoda YMBA The Prize Money Tournament will be held on September 26 and 27.Entries for the tournament are open and the draw will be held at closing of entries.
Sri Lanka is having only two world cup winning sport disciplines in cricket and carrom only. Dr. Samarasinghe said Nishantha Fernando, the world champion is sure to defend the world title at the coming world event in India.
As a university student Samarasinghe introduced carrom to the universities and he is happy to see universities playing in the inter university tournaments.
As there’s only one or two tournaments to be staged to conclude the year 2015 calendar the president in conclusion said his main target is to popularise the game of carrom and will do his best for the upliftment of this sport in winning the Asian championship and to produce more world champions.
Sri Lanka Carrom Federation’s new headquarters is located at No. 25, Sunethradevi Road, Kohuwela.