Revathy gunning for her maiden national title

The senior national carrom championship for men and women will start at the Nehru Stadium from Tuesday. Tamil Nadu are expected to sweep titles in the women’s section and pose a strong challenge in the men’s group. Former World champion G. Revathy, a leading contender for title, said Tamil Nadu should not undervalue others. “Carrom is more spirited these days. We can’t take titles for granted,” she added.

According to Revathy, state like Manipur has taken a huge stride. “You don’t know from where the new test will emerge in this edition. A lot of promising juniors are coming up. Besides, we have to take into account the strength of established senior players. The occasion is more open than ever before,” she said. Revathy has been a veteran in the game. But she has never won the national title in her two-decade long career. “It’s something that rankles me all the time.

I have prepared well to end the drought at the nationals. Let’s see how it pans out,” the Indian Bank employee said. She is bracing up to cope with the pressure of playing at home. “It’s not going to be easy when your friends and relations crowd your board. But pressure is an integral part of the game and those who handle it with aplomb emerge winning. I hope everything will fall in place for me. I don’t want to be remembered as a former World champion who never won the national title,” Revathy added.

Yasika makes reappear to carrom

Amazing Carrom star Yasika Rahubadda who studied at Ratnapura Gonakumbura Maha Vidyalaya and Ratnapura Sumana Balika Vidyalaya is now employed at the Ceylon Electricity Board head office in Colombo. She is making a comeback to carrom with the ongoing national carrom championship and her aim is to climb up the ranking hierarchy in order to seek international exposure.



“Carrom was my pet passion from my childhood. I was motivated by Ratnapura Sumana Vidyalaya. Having tasted success at school level, I then joined the national level. I had to temporarily give up the game due to my father’s demise. But now I am making a return to the game with a physically powerful strength of mind. She was the national junior champ from 2004 to 2009 and the national champ in 2008 and 2009. Yasika also brought Sri Lanka the runners up trophy at the 5th World Carrom Championship held in France.

She also won other key titles like the Maldive Islands Women’s championship, and the runners up trophy from the 10th to 13th SAARC carrom championships.“I am following coaching stints under Rohini Mathias, Jagath Suraweera and Sujatha Maduregoda now. I am grateful to Sumana Vidyalaya Principal and the members of the staff, my family members, friends, relatives, my team mates and the Carrom Association officials for their encouragement and support,” she said.