Slicers await green light to complete tournament schedule
Having a proud record of winning five international events – World Championship (2008, 2012 and 2016), World Cup (2018) and producing a World Singles Champion (2012), the Carrom Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL) is eagerly awaiting the green light from authorities to go ahead with its schedule of conducting domestic tournaments.
The federation, which conducts tournaments right throughout the year, says the entries for the various events is rising every year as the sport is gaining popularity at a rapid pace and is very popular among the young generation. The federation planned to stage a National Championship for youngsters, especially school children, to cater to the large number of entries received.
Sports activities all over the world came to a halt with the spread of the deadly virus. The Carrom Federation too was compelled to stall the National Championship half way. The Junior Nationals, Mid Year Novices Championship, the President’s Cup, the Federation Cup and the National Championship are some of the domestic events that the federation conducts annually.
With international events such as the Carrom World Cup and the SAARC championship for the Asia Cup which are scheduled to be held at the tail-end of the year, if the country is cleared of the deadly virus, the federation will face a busy schedule in completing its domestic tournaments in time to enable selectors to select slicers to represent the country.
The dedication of Lanka’s carrom players enabled them to keep the national flag flying high internationally even though they lack the facilities which other international players enjoy. The federation is still in need for a permanent building to house its headquarters as they have to move from place to place once every two or three years.
When the Sunday Times inquired from the Secretary of the federation, Daya Vidanagama on the future schedule of the federation he said: “Once the country comes to normalcy I am aware of the tight schedule before us. The ExCo will meet to reschedule the remaining tournament calendar. I am not sure whether the World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in September/October in Malaysia and the SAARC Championship for the Asia Cup will be worked off. We will have a sigh of relief if those two important events are postponed so we can conduct our tournaments without a rush.”
“Our main concern is the junior championships and safety of players because of the large number of school boys and girls participating. We will not expose them in any event till we get the clearance of the health authorities,” he said.
Asked on how the players stay in touch with the game, the CFSL secretary replied: “They are in self motivation as they practice the game through the internet. Both men and women players practice singles, doubles and team events. They even play practice matches with international sides like Maldives, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, India and Netherlands.”
Vidanagama praised the players for their dedication. “The dedication and sacrifice of the players should be an example for the others as they practice and play in the least available facilities and they are not professionals. My only wish is for us to get a permanent building to house the headquarters which will be renovated to international standards,” he said.