Sponsorship = Support + Recognition

6th World Carrom Championship 2012, Colombo. Sri Lanka (31st October - 4th November).....here I come.

Ok my apologies for not been writing for quite a while. Yes and I'm back from the competition. It was a good experience but sadly my form wasn't up to par and where I needed it the most, it just didn't come. In all the "bad" that happened, something good did happen. A few days after I got back home, as usual I was back on the board - training. Something strange happened cos this stroke which I've been trying for many years finally took place. It was certainly a good feeling although it hasn't been perfected and needs lots of sharpening, which I've already started working on on a daily basis. I'm delighted as this is the widely used stroke in the international carrom fraternity.

Having said that, I'm very grateful to my employers especially my MD and Head of Corp. Comm. for initiating this sponsorship. For a big organization like this, carrom should be nothing but because of the fact that I'm an employee and that I'm crazily passionate about this game, the company came forward by supporting and recognizing this game. This is a huge boost for me as well as for carrom.

Not only did they sponsor me but they also sponsored the team in terms of providing 2 sets of beautifully printed t-shirts and a cool-looking hand towel to go along with it. This is very exciting for me as I've been with this organization for 5yrs already and this is the 1st time they've agreed to this sponsorship.

HUGE THANKS TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR GIVING THE GREENLIGHT. KUDOS TO THE TEAM!

My only hope is that they will continue to come forward with the assistance I need for future international outings.

My first ever - 27 years ago!

Hi friends, good to catch up once again. When I look back through the years and how carrom has evolved, its truly amazing. Been there, done that and here I am now - playing international carrom. Did I ever expect or dream that I would come this far? NO! NEVER! Everything happens only by HIS grace. So having had played carrom for almost 30 years, I'm glad I actually won something way back in 1985 during my schooldays. It was my runners-up plaque in doubles with my partner at that time - Edmund Fernandez. The plaque was kinda "dusty" although in was in a showcase but still had to use thinner to remove some stubborn dirt and now as you can see - it's SHINY. As for my partner, I guess now he has totally lost touch. Can't blame them as everyone has gone into different directions doing different things i.e. getting married, having a family, caught up with work, etc. etc. Gladly, my passion for carrom never died. Hope to leave behind a carrom legacy in Malaysia.

Stock Clearance!

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Board Specifications/Spesifikasi Papan:

a. Weight/Berat - 17kg

b. Board Size/Saiz Papan - 32in

c. Playing Area/Kawasan Permainan - 29in

d. Frame Thickness/Tebal Frame - 2in

e. Frame Width/Lebar Frame - 3in

f. Ply Thickness/Tebal Papan - 16mm

SURCO Tournament Speedo

Amazing 500 views

It's amazing to note that exactly within just 3 weeks (21days), SSCH blog received 500 views. Thanks for dropping by to read. Appreciate your support.

Personal Milestones in the World of Carrom

1999 - Certified National Umpire
1999 - Certified International Umpire
2000 - Umpire - 2nd Malaysian Open. Umpired Men Single's Final match between 2 Indian players which lasted for 3 hours
2003 - Missed - 2nd US Open International Carrom Tournament
2004 - Player - 4th World Championships, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2005 - Missed - 1st Asian Carrom Championships, Male, Maldives
2006 - Player - 2nd World Cup, New Delhi, India (Received special award for achieving 2nd best player in Asia which excludes the seeded countries)
2006 - Player - 1st Inaugural ESPN StarSports World Series of Carrom, New Delhi, India
(Given the honours as part of only 16 players handpicked to participate and only 1 from Malaysia)
2007 - Missed - 2nd Asian Carrom Championships, Chhattisgharh, India
2008 - Player - 5th ICF Cup Carrom Championships, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2008 - Missed 5th World Championships, Paris, France
2009 - Missed 3rd Asian Carrom Championships, Pune, India
2010 - Missed 3rd World Cup, Richmond, Virginia, USA
2011 - Player - 4th Asian Carrom Championships, Male, Maldives
2011 - Super Slam Carrom House was officially registered as a business
2011 - Organizing Secretary - 6th ICF Cup Carrom Championships, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2012 - Player - 6th World Championships, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2013 - Player - Champion of Champions, Gurgaon, India.
2013 - Re-certified International Umpire (Grade A)

Also umpired hundreds of games and coached a number of teams.

First ever White Slam successfully executed in Malaysia

The whole day, my break was quite disappointing as never once I was able to make a pot during a break and this is not normal for me. 90-95% of the time, at least 1 carrommen gets pocketed. On the evening of 29th July, at about 3pm, it finally happened. On the 7th frame/board of final round-robin match between Baharuddin & myself, it was my turn to break. When I broke, 2 white carrommen was pocketed on the left and right side of the bottom pockets, 1 black carrommen also accompanied on the bottom left pocket.

I was pocketing as usual but then the opening, tactical and strategy was so perfect and I didn't realise it in the end until my opponent made a comment as we looked at each other with 8 black carrommen left on the board. He said in Bahasa "I didn't get to play at all". That's when both of us realized that I've just created a small history. My excitement was beyond words. One thing I know for sure is it was made possible for me by my God. It's his gift to me as "promised". Although at the end of the 6th board, I had a 5pt lead but that's nothing as anything could happen as we were playing not up to 8 boards but "Race to 25pts". Having made that slam was certainly the icing on the cake after emerging as the top player in the selection.

An extract of the score sheet is scanned and attached.

6th World Championships Player Selection - Malaysian Contingent

The month of July 2012 is certainly a month which I'll never forget for the rest of my live. Firstly on the 14th of July, I managed to win Kejohanan Karom Piala Korporat Individu 2012 (Corporate Cup Carrom Championships 2012 - Individual).

Top 8 Men players from that competition were selected to qualify for the upcoming 6th World Championships scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from the 31st of October to 4th of November 2012. This selection was held on the 29th of July. Only 4 Men and 4 Women will be chosen to represent Malaysia. From the Top 8 Men, 2 were serving their suspension and are not allowed to participate in international competitions. That's left with 6. One of them was then appointed as the Team Manager. And then there were 5 of us who had to fight for the 4 places.

While among the Top 8 Women players, 2 didn't turn up. So that leaves 6 and out of that, one of them decided to drop off after playing 2 games due to some personal commitments. In the end, there were 5 Women competing for 4 places as well.

Now, on top of emerging as the Top Shot during the selection, the icing on the cake so to speak was I managed to officially execute the 1st ever White Slam made by a Malaysian player. The break and execution went so well and that made it possible for the Slam. I'm so glad it happened to me finally after having been involved in international carrom since 1999. Although in the past I've achieved 1 White & 1 Black Slam respectively during friendly matches but officially this is the one. Thank God I finally made it. Hope to be able to do more slams.

Top 4 Men

1. Yours truly
2. Wan Arif
3. Baharuddin
4. Suhaizan

Top 4 Women

1. Suzana
2. Pushpa
3. Jamilah
4. Zaida

Here are some pictures taken during the selection event (Courtesy of Frankie):

Participants trying hard to make it to the Top 4