Ranjan- Jack of many traits and Master of Carrom
View(s):Recently, I had the honour of being invited to a simple function to mark Ranjan Fernando’s 50 years in Carrom. It was a gathering of his former Carrom partners and students who had reached national level. Though I am not a Carrom player, I was a beneficiary of his free coaching of Table Tennis (TT) at the Moratuwa YMCA in the late 1960s. Coupled with my long term association with Ranjan, as a great sportsman from Moratuwa, I wish to share with the readers a few of his milestones in sports that came to light at the function.
Educated at Moratu Vidyalaya, Ranjan represented his School 1st XI in Cricket (Opening Batsman) and Football. The foundation to his prodigious career in Carrom was laid in 1961, at Lakshapathiya Boys’ Club in Moratuwa, where ‘Aunty Millie’ was his first coach and mentor. In 1963, he joined Dominic Savio Club in Kadalana and the YMCA Moratuwa, which later became a household name for producing National Carrom, Basket Ball, and TT players. The YMCA was a fertile ground for Ranjan to develop and exhibit his all-round sports capabilities. As a result, in the early1970’s, Ranjan teamed up with veteran players such as Ranjan Rodrigo, Lalith Weerasuriya and BNR Mendis representing YMCA Moratuwa and emerged Champions in the All Island ‘B’ Division Mercantile TT Championships. Similarly, in 1977, he joined Dr. Mohanlal Fernando and Anacletus Fernando to emerge as Runners -up. With his acquired prowess in TT, Ranjan was instrumental in producing 2 National Women Champions in Preeth Swaris and Shyamalie Dias from YMCA Moratuwa.
Another trait I discovered in Ranjan is his ability to entertain his friends with an array of songs tempered with ‘Waada Baila’!
However, as the title of this write-up implies, Ranjan truly deserves the title ‘Master of Carrom’ in Sri Lanka, going by his following achievements and milestones.
1969- All Island Novices Champion and Runner-up in his maiden appearance at the National Carrom Championships.
1972-National Champion. Also, in the 1st Test series against India, fought against Indian National Coach Arun Deshpande in the 3rd Test in Moratuwa, and beat All India No.2 Jageshwar Sahu in the 4th Test in Kandy.
1977- National Champion.
1979- National Champion.
1971-1979 –Triple Crown winner in many ranked Tournaments in Sri Lanka.
1988- Vice President of Carrom Federation of Sri Lanka.
1992-1994- Vice President of National Selection Committee.
1996- National Carrom Coach.
1998- As National Carrom Coach, organized and conducted the first ever Schools Carrom Tournament, in collaboration with the National Schools Carrom Association.
1999/2000- Authored and launched the first ever Book on Carrom in Sri Lanka, titled ‘Carrom Thakshanaya’.
2000 onwards- Coached Colombo and Moratuwa Universities, Air Lanka and Sri Lanka Army.
Currently coaching Sri Lanka Air Force, St. Peter’s College Colombo and Our Lady of Victories Convent Moratuwa.
Records
2 consecutive Slams (Pocketing all dogs in the first attempt without giving an opportunity to the opponent) in 1 game.
2 Slams (within 5 shots) in 1 game- 3 times.
Finishing a game within 4 minutes.
7 Slams in 1 tournament.
4 Slams in 1972 at All India Carrom Championships in New Delhi-Allahabad.
Coached a student at Sri Lanka Air Force to perform an exhibition shot of pocketing 4 dogs to the 4 pockets in one single shot in May 2019. To Ranjan’s knowledge, it has not been performed by anyone in the world so far.
Using his wide and researched knowledge of the game, Ranjan has conducted several seminars for school teachers, Physical Training Instructors and sports officials island-wide.
As an experienced Coach, Ranjan has produced a number of world class players and Champions such as Clarista Peter (nee Fernando), Langley and Bradley Mathiasz, Viraj Fernando (National Champion) and Nishantha Fernando (World Champion -2012), all from YMCA Moratuwa, whom he groomed from basic skills to garnering finer points of the game.
With his humble beginnings, Ranjan continues his game as a Champion player and a disciplined and experienced Coach.
I wish my good friend Ranjan and his Family good health, prosperity and happiness.
Bernard Fernando
Moratuwa