‘Please, can someone beat me?’ bemoans champion Sirisoma
View(s):21-time winner still wields the cue like a magic wand
By Naushad Amit
Komala Hewamannage or simply K.H. Sirisoma, as he is famously know in the local and international billiards and snooker circle, may have won the National Billiards Championship for the 21st time just seven days ago, but strangely his face does not wear that jubilant smile of a victor. Despite setting an unapproachable number of national victories in billiards, he sounded the most dejected sports personality in Sri Lanka. Emerging victorious for over two decades in a sport is indeed a great triumph but for Sirisoma it is turning out to be a curse.
“What is the purpose of winning when I’m not afraid or put under pressure by my opponents? We have wasted too much of our precious time on billiards and snooker without proper development. Winning is just part of the game and there are lots of other aspects involved in it. Like me, my colleagues are also desperate to see a change in this sport,” Sirisoma, who possesses a soft-spoken character by nature, stressed at one of those rare moments when he becomes vociferous.
Sirisoma, at 59 is still in great form. - Pic by Amila Gamage
Sirisoma, 59, a Logistics Supervisor at Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), has just a year before his retirement from his profession and he wants to make use of that period to make critical decisions about his sporting career. Though it was his 21st national title in billiards that came last week, the tournament Sirisoma featured in was for the year 2012. His only wish, as in fairytales, is that a young handsome prince would emerge and give Sirisoma a nice ‘thrashing’ in this year’s tournament, on his quest to win a 22nd Billiards National title.
“A few years back my goal was to break the record of 16 Nationals wins, set by the great maestro M.J.M. Lafir. But those intentions have changed. I’m not selfish to win 21 national titles and I’m tired of being unbeaten. I’d be happier than breaking Lafir’s record, the day a youngster can outclass me at the nationals. I thought it would occur this time but it never happened and I will give that hope another go before making a final decision if I should really continue playing under these circumstances.”
When Sirisoma made his appearance at competitive stage he hardly wasted any time in reaching the next level. As a youngster of 29, Sirisoma had the guidance of his father and three big brothers when he debuted on the national stage and on his way to winning the National Snooker Championship in 1984. Since 1985 he has been winning the National Billiards title except for seven years, taking his whole tally to 21 while breaking Lafir’s record in 2007. These achievements, as Sirisoma stated, may be easy to reminisce about but the whole effort involves a great amount of dedication and commitment.
With barely a year to go before he retires from the SLPA, his employer and supporter for 32 long years, Sirisoma still continues to do eight to ten night shifts a month as he used to do since the beginning of his career. But his composure in cue sports has never faded even though losing a few matches here and there at 59.
The modern day billiards maestro wishes that the officials of the Billiards and Snooker Association of Sri Lanka (BSASL), would at least start thinking broadly about the development of the game. He insists that the BSASL should conduct more tournaments than just the nationals for billiards, snooker and the Under-23s. According to him cue sports are fast becoming a dying art in Sri Lanka unless proper care and focus is diverted by the relevant authorities. Sirisoma has been a long time advocate in pushing the authorities to promote the game among youngsters, especially schools and form coaching camps or clinics by making use of the vast knowledge of former players. But his appeals have gone unheard like his wishes.
“As a parent I too was in uncertainty whether to push my son into cue sports. I guess it is the very same feeling experienced by other parents too. But someone has to initiate. As former national billiards and snooker champion Henry Boteju taught his son Susantha the tricks of the trade to become a champion, I too have started to train my son, Kusal. Like our sons, there are lots of youngsters in Sri Lanka who are keen on cue sports but are backwards due to various reasons. Now it’s the officials’ call to answer these calls and bring an end to the long standing talent drought. For me, personally it would be even more pleasant to hear than my victories,” he asserted.
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