Carrom Queen Rashmi regains World title

Colombo, November 4, 2012: Rashmi Kumari of India made history on the Sri Lankan soil by winning the women’s singles title of World Carrom Championship for the second time. Rashmi beat team-mate I. Illavazghi in straight set by 25-12 and 25-11.

Earlier, Rashmi had won this coveted trophy in the year 2000 during 3rd World Carrom Championship in Delhi beating P Nirmala of India.

Rashmi, who hails from Patna (Bihar), beat Yashika of Sri Lanka by 25-4 and 25-6 in the quarterfinal with the help of one White Slam whereas, Kavita Sumanchi of India beat Parimala Devi also of India by 25-12 and 25-22 to secure 3rd place. Rashmi had secured 3rd place during 2004 in Sri Lanka and during 2008 in France. She also had to her credit two Asian Championships and Two International Carrom Federation Cup Championships. She is currently the Indian National Champion and has also secured five National titles to her credit.

However, the history was made by D. Nishant Fernando of Sri Lanka who beat Bharti Darshan of India in a straight set of 25-4 and 25-10. This is the first title of men’s singles of any international tournament won by any non-Indian player in the last 24 years since the creation of International Carrom Federation.

Fernando played extremely beautiful game to beat Bharti Dashan in the final. Earlier, Fernando defeated Parakash Gaikwad of India in two sets by 25-23 and 25-5 and scored One White Slam as well as a Black Slam during the quarterfinal.  Fernando also defeated K. Srinivas of India in the semifinal by 25-18 and 25-23.

The 6th World Carrom Champion ended with a colourful closing and prize distribution ceremony. Sri Lankan Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage was the chief guest at the ceremony. Also present on the occasion were president of International Carrom Federation Arif Naqvi, secretary general (ICF) SK Sharma, president ACC Zahir Nasir, and secretary general, ACC Langlee Mathaisz and the Auditor General of Sri Lanka Mayadune.