Lankans bring home the Carrom world title
The slicers who made Sri Lanka proud at the 5th Carrom World Cup - Pix by Amila Gamage
The unsung heroes of Sri Lanka Sports, the National Carrom team made Sri Lanka’s flag fly high at the 5th Carrom World Cup 2018 at Chuncheon, South Kora, last week, when Sri Lanka’s Men Slicers won the World Team championship.
The Sri Lanka Men’s team broke a hoodoo in defeating the high riding Indians 2-1, to grab the Team Championship, while the Women Slicers failed to live up to their reputation, going down 3-0 to their Indian counterparts.
Except for young Shaheed Hilmy’s defeat, 4-time World champions India tasted defeat at the hands of a gallant Sri Lankan outfit led by Chamil Cooray and Nishantha Fernando.
A jubilant Sri Lanka Men’s team skipper speaking to the Sunday Times on arrival said that as a team they are very happy even with fewer facilities that they are able to win the world in carrom. He hoped that at the next Carrom World Cup in 2020 our slicers will repeat this performance.
Sri Lanka skipper Chamil Cooray League
Sri Lanka will host the next Asian championship and he is confident that Sri Lanka would be able to defeat the Asian Giants India as they defeated them at the World Cup. It’s not only the men, but also the women carromites made Sri Lanka feel proud by finishing first runner-up in the Women’s championship behind India.
Though Sri Lanka was expected to win the Doubles crown, the much touted Women Slicers were no match to the Indian Women, as they went down tamely 0-3 in the finals. Sri Lanka Women were represented by skipper Yasika Rahubadda, Joseph Roshita, Chalani Lakmali and Maduka Dilshani.
In the ‘Swiss League’ where every Man and Woman player at the championship took part, reigning champion Chamil Cooray was beaten by 1 point, by Indian Woman player Kajal Kumari, in a close game.
Though Sri Lanka has won five World Championships, this is the first time Sri Lanka won an event at the World Cup. In 2008 (France) and 2016 (England) the island nation won the Men’s team events and Chamil Cooray won the Swiss League. Nishantha Fernando emerged Men’s Singles champion at the 6th World Carrom Championship held in Sri Lanka. In the 4th edition of the World Championship held in the Maldives, Chamil Cooray won the Swiss League .
President of the Carrom Federation Parakrama Basnayaka said “ before I took over office not a single tournament was conducted. Now under my wings the game of carrom in Sri Lanka is in the correct track.” He commended the team for winning the championship by men and women’s teams for their excellent dedication and application which brought credit and pride to the country.
The Men's World champs and Women's runners-up were paraded to Colombo on an open top bus
Results
Men’s Team finals:
- Saheer Pasha (India) beat Shaheed Hilmy (Sri Lanka) 2-0 (25-22, 25-11)
- Nishantha Fernando (Sri Lanka) beat Sagaya Bharthi (India) 2-0 (25-22, 25-7)
- Chamil Cooray (Sri Lanka) beat Prashanth Moore (India) 2-1 (25-3, 15-25, 25-21)
Champions: Sri Lanka, 1st Runner-up: India, 2nd Runner-up: France, 3rd Runner-up: Maldives
Women’s Team finals:
- S. Apuoorwa (India) beat Yasika Rahubadda (Sri Lanka) 2-0 (25-12, 25-23)
- Rushmi Kumari (India) beat Joseph Roshita (Sri Lanka) 2-0 (19-15, 25-23)
- Kajal Kumari (India) beat Chalani Lakmali (Sri Lanka) 2-0 (25-11, 25-12)
Champions: India, 1st Runner-up: Sri Lanka, 2nd Runner-up: Maldives, 3rd Runner-up: Japan