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| Sunday, 29 August 2004 |
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16 countries at World Carrom C'ships by Leslie Fernando Over one hundred carromites from sixteen countries will slice their way at the 4th world carrom championships hosted by the carrom federation of Sri Lanka to be staged in Colombo from October 5 to 9. Ms. Rohini Mathiasz, Secretary of the Carrom Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL) said that the International Carrom Federation has given its blessings to conduct this championships. National Savings Bank has come forward to be the principal sponsor with a generous contribution of one million rupees while Finance and Guarantee Ltd has given half a million rupees. Ms. Mathiasz added that the CFSL is looking for more sponsors as the cost of conducting the championships require huge amount of finances. The CFSL have already written to the Sports Ministry to help with funds but to-date there has been no response from the authorities. The CFSL is also faced with a problem of finding a suitable venue to play the matches. Thirty two carrom boards have to be placed at the playing arena. Negotiations are on with regard to the venue and the CFSL organising committee have earmarked the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. The countries in the fray are defending champions India, runner-up Sri Lanka, England, USA, Germany, Italy, France, Pakistan, Dubai, Bangladesh, Korea, Japan, Australia, Maldives, Singapore and Malaysia. The championships will be for men and women and the events to be worked off are men's team championship, women's team championship, men's singles, men's doubles, women's singles and women's doubles. The overall champions will be presented with the Carrom Federation of Sri Lanka Challenge Trophy. India has dominated in the last three world championships coming out victorious in 1991 in New Delhi, 1996 in Sri Lanka, and in 1999 in New Delhi again. Sri Lanka slicers finished runner-up in all previous championships. Former ace Sri Lanka slicer Langley Mathiasz, the Vice President of the CFSL, said that the Sri Lanka contingent both men and women players have been selected and the names are up with Sports Ministry for approval. Men- Chamil Cooray (Carromites SC), Nishantha Fernando (Finance and Guarantee), Ajith Chandrasoma (Ceylon Petroleum Corporation), Viraj Fernando (Sri Lanka Ports Authority), Tharnaga Kalum (Old Mazenodian SC), Women- Amitha Wickremasinghe (Sri Lanka Ports Authority), Nayana Cooray (Carromite SC), Leela de Silva (SLTB), Kalyani Amerasinghe (State Engineering Corporation), P. Abeyratne (SLSI). Langley said that the local slicers are hard at training at the CFSL headquarters at Reid Avenue. Arun Deshapande one of the former foremost Indian slicer (one of Langley's close associates) has been invited to coach the Sri Lanka squad. According to Langley Arun is presently in Canada. |
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