SLPA’s Sirisoma the undisputed champ bags his 24th title
If Sirisoma, who is anticipating a good opponent at national level, had a challenger, it was the Late Henry Boteju
The battle for the national billiards title for more than two decades has been a one-sided affair with little challenge coming the way of Khobala Hewamunage Sirisoma who has been representing the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) officially for 34 years till he retired two years ago.
But even then though he has retired he is yet representing the SLPA which he has been doing for the last two years and the reason Sirisoma says is that they have been behind me and supported me to the hilt and as a gesture I am proud.
So he has not let them down and he has done proud to SLPA by clinching the national billiards title for the 24th time which he achieved early this week when he defeated S.H.M. Aslam of Moors SC, who has been his victim on several occasions, in the final of the 64th National Billiards Championship in a one sided game by six frames to one in the 11 frame encounter.
Sirisoma on his way to the final underwent only one tough game which was in the quarter-final where he was stretched to the wire by M.M. Mubeen of Army in the seven frame encounter which he prevailed in the deciding frame to win by four frames to three.
In fact Aslam was his victim when he broke the Sri Lanka record of 16 national billiards titles won by maestro and Sri Lanka’s first world Champion M.J.M. Lafir which he achieved in 2007.
So since then Sirisoma is yet to find a real challenger which he sometimes feels sorry as he says unlike snooker and pool it’s a pity that there are only a few youngsters who have taken to the game.
Speaking to Sunday Times after clinching his 24th title he said the game of billiard is not easy as it requires a lot of patience and also there is an art of approaching it as one should set up one’s own tactics which he feels that it would be difficult to do.
“I am now 62 years and I am at the last stages of the game” but again I am proud to say that the 24 national billiards title I have won is by solely representing SLPA where I had been employed for 34 long years.
When asked about the standard of the game at present he stated that there is a lot to be done if the game is to be kept alive. Conducting ranking tournaments and inter-club tournaments should be taken seriously as the clubs have talented players who could be nurtured to become future champions.
Looking back at Sirisoma’s involvement in the game, it spans a period of over three and half decades which began in 1979 and he has been dominating the game like a duck taking to the water.
Sirisoma began playing the game since the age of 12 having been inspired after watching maestro M.J.M. Lafir playing at the World Billiards Championship when it was held in Colombo. He says he was fortunate to have been able to witness a great player.
He added: “I never had a coach but I was able to catch up the game by watching other players and I practiced with dedication which helped me to reach this position.”
He said the governing body of cue sports should open an academy and he is willing to give his fullest support and to share his experience of over 35 overs in the sport of billiard.
“I must also mention that the Billiards and Snooker Association spearheaded by Zuraish Hashim and Zulsky Passela is in good hands. They understand the game and I am confident that things will be put in the right direction to take the game to a higher level”.
Now there is a lot of preparation going on with the Asian Billiards Championship and the Under 21 Snooker Championship due to be held next month in Sri Lanka.
“So this is a good opportunity for us to promote the game in our country as an international tournament is held in Sri Lanka after a lapse of ten years. Sirisoma has been the mantle to lead the Sri Lanka where he along with the other three semi finalists will represent the country.”
Sirisoma has a son Kusal Sachintha who also plays the cue game, both billiard and snooker. Kusal also represents the SLPA and his aim is to teach and fine tune him to take it over from him as he may have hang his boots in the near future.
In conclusion Sirisoma said that he would like to thank Arjuna Ranatunga Minister of Ports, Dhammika Ranatunga, SLPA Chairman, S.D. Weerasinghe Sports Secretary SLPA, Patrick Oliver Fernando, Zuraish Hashim, Zulsky Passela the incumbent President and Vice President of the Billiard and Snooker Association and P.J.M. Ameen who has supported him during his billiards career.