Carrom Association

According to wikipedia the Americans play a variation of
Carrom which was brought from the East by missionaries in the 1890’s.

It is quite similar except the striker is lighter and the carrom pieces are smaller than in the games played in Asia and Europe.

This could be because they use rings instead of solid pieces.

These rings used to be made of wood, but now are available in plastic.

They also use short cues instead of fingers to pot their pieces and the boards have pockets built into the corners to make pocketing easier.

However a carrom board is not just a carrom board.

Many have patterns painted or printed on them that allow you to play crokinole, backgammon, chess, checkers and many more traditional board games.

The man held responsible for changing the original carrom was Henry Haskell, a Sunday school teacher.

I don’t know whether he should be congratulated or condemned.

Just to show that carrom is alive and kicking in other parts of the world, or maybe that should be alive and flicking have a look at this site.

There is a wealth of information for the carrom enthusiast and some very interesting articles.

WHO ARE THESE GUYS?
I just found this page and there are a whole bunch of guys standing playing carrom.

They cannot be serious.

I always sit down and make myself comfortable before I play.

Am I the only one? I don’t think so.

If you know who they are I’d be grateful to find out if they always play standing up.

If you are not busy over the weekend, live near Vijayawada and have nothing better to do, go along to the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium, where there is a 4 day Carrom championship.

It starts on Saturday, but unfortunately I can’t tell you at what time.

The competition will be held in the Dafedhar Appa Rao Memorial Hall.

However the competition is only open to Central and State Government employees.

Men and women may enter and it will be singles only matches.

It’ll cost you 30 rupees to enter, if you’re eligible.

You must register before 8 pm. on March 9.

Because of the time difference that’s round about now, or you’ve just missed it.

Sorry.

Below are phone numbers you could call for more information.

For details, call 9394002218, 9441715951 or 0866-2436688.

In the deep south of India junior carrom players from Visakhapatnam are slowly but surely honing their skills, and developing into world class players.

Both are pupils in class VII at the Siva Sivani School (Marripalem), where playing carrom is encouraged.

In the 34th sub-junior National Carrom Championships held in Trivandrum recently they came very near to victory.

A. Pavan secured second rank in the cadet boys’ category.

He made it to the finals where he was beaten by Shabaz Akthar of UP.

M.S.K. Harika made it through to the semi-finals and was fourth in the sub-junior girls event.

They both played extremely well against older and more experienced players.

Their coach, G. Srinivasa Rao, said he was very proud of the children and is optomistic about the future.

Read the complete article about the two future champions.

Carrom is my favourite game
But I have no sense of shame
That I don’t play vey well
But there is to need to tell
Me how to flick my finger
Or hurry up… I like to linger

Carrom is a game of fun
No matter if you’ve lost or won.
If you have the time to spare
You can play it anywhere

Take my time, set up my shot
Position my striker, oh almost forgot
Maybe a little sprinkling of powder
And silence please. The noise gets louder
The coin clacks against the side
Oh what a pity. It’s too wide.

Carrom is a game of fun
No matter if you’ve lost or won.
If you have the time to spare
You can play it anywhere

Missed the next one, and the next
Not to worry, I’m not vexed
Toffs can play it and riff-raff
Take it seriously or have a laugh
Just enjoy and make new friends
Go home happy when it ends,

Carrom is a game of fun
No matter if you’ve lost or won.
If you have the time to spare
You can play it anywhere.

If I could write music I’d write it here.
But I can’t.
If I knew how to do podcasts or video I’d sing it to you.
But I can’t do podcasts or video.
I can’t sing either.
If I could write poetry I wouldn’t be doing this. Probably.

In the 7th SAARC Countries Carrom championship which were held in Dhaka last week India won six of the seven gold medals which were up for grabs.

Unfortunately they lost in the mixed doubles.

They won the men’s and women’s team titles, the men’s singles and doubles and women’s singles and doubles.

Well done, and commiserations to the losers.

Better luck next year.

They had won all 7 but failed to maintain its all conquering record due to its loss in the mixed doubles which concluded in Dhaka Wednesday. ?

Government employees are meeting on 14th & 15th March to take part in a sports and cultural gathering.
The lucky employees who will miss work on Wednesday and Thursday, will take part in hurdles, long and high jump, javelin, discus throw, shotput, relay and other races.

There will also be music, chess and drama competitions

However please have a look at the quote below

Women-below 40 years: Badminton, table tennis, carrom, throwball and swimming competitions.

Women above 40 : Table tennis and badminton. Cultural competitions: Hindusthani music-vocal, light and classical. Karnataka music-classical and light, dance-folklore and Bharathanatyam

That means I couldn’t play carrom, if I were a government employee.

Why, rather why not?

I’d like to know.
You can read the complete article here.

It doesn’t say how many employees will be there, or which government departments they work for.

Or how much it will cost.

I don’t want to sound like a spoilsport, but aren’t there more urgent, pressing needs in India, than this? What is the reason for it all?

If I have been presumptious and the staff are taking 2 days out of their holidays and are paying for their own transport, food, accommodation (if needed), I humbly apologise.

However I have worked in government offices myself. I’ll re-phrase that.

I have been employed in government offices.

I suppose the perks are to make up for the boredom and tedium of the job.

Or maybe I was just unlucky.

I have lots of questions.
But before we start on the carrom questiions, can anyone answer this?
Why is it the United Kingdom? Surely it should be the United Queendom?

And we all know the red counter in the game of carom is called the queen.
We’ll start in the UK simply because this is the place I know best.
I was born and brought up in the UK.
However I regret that this post will probably be one of the shortest.
Carrom has not yet been deemed cool, or book or whatever the latest word for fashionable is, and until someone famous, for example, David Beckham or Prince William or Harry or J.K.Rawlings admits to playing the game avidly it will remain a game to play at home, occasionally.
Below are several links to sites in the U.K. or should I say London and the South East. I have tried to include the rest of the country but I don’t have any news or information for you.
If you know any more please get in touch.
Carromassociation.co.uk.
Carromcafe.co.uk.
Carromuk.org.uk.
East End of London Club Details.
Ruskin House, Croydon.

10 Questions I’d like to know the answers to.

When did carrom arrive in the UK?
How many carrom boards are there in the UK?
How many carrom players are there in the UK?
Has there ever been an international carrom champion from Britain?
Where is the oldest carrom club in UK?
What is the biggest prize ever awarded in a carrom competition in the UK?
Who is the oldest player?
Who is the youngest player?
Are there any women’s only teams?
What will it take to get you going to promote Carrom?

Answers please, on a postcard to ….
No, only joking.
But if there really is life after the Watford Gap, show us.
Contact us here or at Carromassociation.co.uk.

Over the next few months I intend to spotlight different countries around the globe and comment on how carrom fares in every one.
I have lots of info such as web addresses and old articles.
What I need is more information on any aspect of carrom in your village, town or city. Even just a few lines will do.
I’d also like to do profiles on any carrom personalities.
It doesn’t mean only players, but anyone who helps in any way to promote carom.
It could be a kind relative who taxis you around to games.
It could be your neighbour or teacher who organises events.
Umpires, coaches, champions, amateur players, everyone. Send us your stories, please.

Photo of globe.