Carrom Association

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.

The title is a bit of a tongue twister, no?
The Carrom Association is a non profit organisation setup to promote the game of carrom internationally. We organise events, promotions, clubs and find ways for players to meet each other.
If you would like to get involved in helping to promote carrom, in any way, please feel free to contact us.

And it’s good to know there are others out there who are doing the same.
I heard there is a competition in Dortmund, Germany in July this year.
I will try to find out more about it and keep you posted.
And if any one can tell us anything more about it, please contact us.
Thanks.

Sanjay Murthy

The following video is of White Slam by Sanjay Murthy in the singles finals of TV Asia Cup 2006 in the singles finals of TV Asia Cup 2006. They make it look so easy as if anyone can play. They complete the final in less than two minutes.
It takes me longer than that to set the board up!
Well, as I have said before, anyone can play carrom. That is the beauty of the game.
But to play like these guys takes time, talent, patience and practice.
I wonder how many years they have been playing?
If I manage to pocket my pieces, it’s more a matter of luck than good judgement.
I would be interested to know if there have been any faster finals.
OK everyone this is the question.
Who has won a carrom final in less than two minutes?
When was the fastest final?
When was the longest?
We’d also be grateful for any info on Sanjay Murthy.
White Slam by Sanjay Murthy

This weekend I am going to cook some Indian dishes and invite some Spanish friends for dinner.
I want to give them a game of carrom and see if I can convert them.
Carrom is popular in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Holland.
However the Spanish carrom scene seems to be like the UK one.
Virtually non-existent.
Wish me luck.

Tonight while looking for items about carom I typed Indian games into Google.
Over 18 million sites came up.
However No. 1 is India games, computer games and suchlike.
No. 4 was street games of India,
There were several other Indian sites on the first page.
However not one had anything carromy.
I was quite surprised.
I’ll let you know if I find anything further on.

A sport or a game?
According to Webster’s dictionary a game is “a contest with rules to determine a winner.”
One of the definitions of sport is “an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition.”
Both of these definitions fit carrom.
What do you think?
A sport or a game?
Does it make any difference?
Opinions please.