We thank Murtaza Zulfee, Vice President ICF and member ICF-Media Commission for the following reports.

16th Carrom Euro Cup 2012

Karachi Times Report

KARACHI: The 16th Carrom Euro Cup for Singles, Doubles and Teams events ended on Sunday 17th June 2012 at Darmstadt, Germany. More than one hundred players from eleven (11) countries of Europe Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherland, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland participated in the tournament. The singles trophy was lifted by Karnal Abedin of U.K. who defeated in final Pierre Duobios of France with a margin of 2:0 sets. This was the fourth consecutive win of the title by Karnal Abedin. While last year Karnal had won all matches, this year in early rounds he was defeated by Germany's young player Tobias Krueger and the German champion Peter Boecker. Peter Boecker came finally on 3rd. place and Tobias Krueger on the 4th place. The Doubles Trophy was also lifted by Karnal Abedin and Nazrul Islam of U.K. Second place went to Ish Kumar and Shuab Ahmed of U.K. and the 3rd place to Peter Boecker and Tobias Krueger of Germany, folowed by Venou Mouraly and Pierre Dubois of France on 4th place. In Teams Championship U.K. with Karnal Abedin, Nazrul Islam, Ish Kumar and Shuab Ahmed defended successfuly the trophy by winning 87 points. Germany with Peter Boecker, Tobias Krueger, Wolfgang Peter and Johannes Joerg came again on 2nd plce with 83 points. While France with Muraly Venou, Alfred Rajadurai, Radjou Venou and Pierre Dubois came on third place with 81 points. The prize for best woman went to Paulina Nowakowska of Poland while Radjou Venou receid the prize for best young player. The prize distribution ceremony was conducted with an interesting festive atmosphere at a lawn. Mrs. Elisa Martinelli Secretary General of ECC distributed the certificates and the representatives of the main sponsor Enrico System Ms. Juliane Mach and Ms. Shari Boelke handed over the prizes to the winners. Closing the 12th Carrom Euro Cup 2012 Arif Naqvi President of the European Carrom Confederation and ICF thanked the German Carrom Federation and Carrom Club Darmstadt for successfully organising the Euro Cup and providing excellent hospitality. He highly praised the excellent performances of many players and also the friendly and cordial atmosphere of the tournament. It is the first time in the history of the ECC that 11 European countries have taken part in the Euro Cup. He hoped that large number of Carrom players from Europe will be taking part in the world Carrom Championship due to be held from 31st October 2012 at Colombo, Sri lanka. Naqvi also announced on behalf of the ECC that the 17th Euro Cup 2013 will be held in Poland. He hoped that the players from more countries will be joining it. The Euro Cup was opened on 15th June at the beautiful hall of Justus-Liebig House by ECC & ICF President Arif Naqvi. He stressed on the social values of Carrom. Mayor of Darmstadt Mr. Partsch, who was Chief Guest on the occasion welcomed the players in his city and praised the game of Carrom. GCF President Jeorg Kijanski and Gunter Seibert President of the Carrom Club darmstadt asured on behalf of the GCF and CCD good hospitality. Main sponsor of the 16th Euro Cup 2012 Mr. Meier of Enerco System appreciated the game of Carrom and healthy and friendly atmosphere of the Euro Cup and assured maximum possible cooperation.

* Media coverage in Sri Lanka
* Media coverage in Pakistan
* Media coverage in India
(For details see below)

SRI LANKA CARROM CHAMPIONS

Dear Mr. Naqvi,

As promised I herewith send extracts of details that appeared in the Sunday Observer of March 9th 2008 of Sri Lanka.

Winston Rajudeen

CEYLINCO IS PROUD OF OUR WORLD CHAMPIONS

The world carrom championships was held in Mize France recently. The Sri Lankan team which was represented by Chamil Cooray and Germain Gunawardane of Seyzlan Bank and Nishantha Fernando of F & G Group of Ceylinco Consolidated who won the World Title for carrom brought fame honour and pride not only to Ceylinco Consolidated but also to Sri Lanka.

Deshamanya Dr. Lalith Kotelawela, Lady Dr. Sicille Kotelawela and all of us of Ceylinco Consolidated share the pride and joy of this great victory.

Chairman Deshamanya Dr. Lalith Kotelawela has presented a house and a car to each of the three World Champions Chamil Cooray, Germain Gunawardene and Nishantha Fernando. They were also promoted.

1. Chamil Dharshana Cooray, Sub Officer, Seylan Bank (Millenium Towers)
2. Germain Gunawardene, Executive Officer, Seylan Bank - do -
3. Nishantha Fernando, Asst. Manager, Customer Service, F & G Head Office

Great Achievement for Sri Lankan Sports

The Carrom Federation of Sri Lanka reaches a half century this zear and the best reward that the Sri Lankan carrom players gave was this great achievement being World Champions. We congratulate them. Chairman Dr. Lalith Kotelawela did not hesitate to reward all three of them with a house, a brand new car and promotions to each of them.

Let me express my heartfelt thanks to Deshamanya Dr. Lalith Kotalawela and Lady Dr. Sicille Kotalawela, Deputy Chairperson Ceylinco Consolidated for the support and guidance given to the players.

The Board of Directors and staff of Seylan Bank and F & G Group are appreciated for the encouragement given to carrom at all times.

Yours in Carrom
D. Mervyn Jayasinghe
Deputy Chairman, F & G Group
Former President Carrom Federation of Sri Lanka

THEY ARE A 'PRIDE TO THE NATION'

(Following is a report published by Mr. Murtaza Khan Zulfee in the news papers of Karachi)

In the history of the game of Carrom after 19 years first time Sri lanka beat Indiain Men’s team event of World Carrom Championship 2008, Sri lankan player Chamil Cooray and Nishanta Fernando beat Yogesh Pardesi and R.M Shankara(India) while M.Natraj (India) beat Germain Gonewardena (Sri), but in the best of three games, Sri lanka won the title by 2-1 games while United Kingdom secured the 3^rd position.

On the occasion of 10^th Anniversary of French Carrom federation and 20^th Anniversary of International Carrom Federation the World Carrom Championship 2008 played last week in Cannes, Francewhere Pakistan, France, India, Srilanka, America, England, Italy, Germany, South Korea, Canada and Japan participated in this championship, where in the Mens Double event R M Shankara and M Natraj (India) beat Chamil Cooray and Nishanta Fernando (Srilanka) and Yogesh Pardesi & R Arokiaraj of India were on the 3rd position

In the Men’s single event 1^st and 2^nd & 3^rd positions were secured by Yogesh Pardesi, M.Natraj and R. M. Shankara of India.

In the 5th World Carom Championship Women’s Team event Indian Women’s team beat Srilankan Women’s Team and French Women Team secured the 3rd position respectively. Women’s Double event Final was played between two Indian Teams in which Rashmi Kumari & P. Nirmala beat Illavazhaki & G. R. Ravathy by 3-2 game while Srilanka’s A. Vikramasinghe & Yashika Rahuvaddha stood 3^rd. In the Women’s Single event.1st, 2nd and 3rd position holder were Indian ILU.Reshmi and P.Nirmala.

During this championship PakistanCarom Players Mohammad Aamir Khan, Nadir Hussain, Murtaza Khan Zulfee and Ramzan Ali won the matches against Japan, South Korea, German, UK, USA and Italy’s carrom players and they have proved that Pakistan Carom Team is eligible to participate in the World Carrom Cup 2010 which will held in Dallas USA.

In the end, the Cannes’ Mayer, the President of International Carom Federation Mr.Arif Naqvi and Secretary General of ICF Mr. S.K Sharma addressed the guests of the closing ceremony and distributed awards among the winning players. On this occasion French Carrom Federation’s President Mr. Frank, General Secretary Mr. Aur�lien Hanique, Mr. Karim Nessakh, Mr. Denis Brown, Miss Emilie Neuhauser, Katia Merkoulova and others were present.

5^thWorld Carrom Championship

Yogesh Pardeshi & Illavazhaki emerge World Champion

A report by M. Saran Joint Secretary AICF

New Delhi : February 20, 2008 – Shri J.P. Agarwal, MP, President, Delhi Congress Committee and Chairman Al India Carrom Federation welcome & extended Lunch to the Indian Carrom Team today at Parliament in the presence of Shri Jabir Hussain M.P. Rajya Sabha from Bihar as Special Guest.

Indian Player Yogesh Pardeshi who became National Champion in recently held Senior National Championship at held at Championship annexed the crown of World Champion in the 5^th World Carrom Championship scheduled to be held Palace de Festivals, Cannes, France defeated team mate M. Nataraj in a straight set of games at 25-22 and 25-12. In the 2nd game, Yogesh Pardesi a white slam i.e. break to finish. Earlier, Yogesh Pardeshi was World No. 2. Playing for 3^rd place defending Champion R. M. Shankara (India) defeated his teammate R. Arokiaraj at 8- 25, 25-11, 25-6. 5^th to 8^th place secured by D. Nishant Fernando (Sri Lanka), Sumahar Ali (UK), Shake Challa (USA) and Nazrul Islam (UK) respectively.

Indian reigning National Women Champion, I. Illavazhaki also captured the Women World Champion title defeating her teammate P. Nirmala at 25-11, 25-11, whereas ex-World Champion Rashmi Kumari has to satisfy with 3^rd place when she defeated her teammate & Ex-world Champion G. Revathi at 25-17, 25-1in play off match. 5^th to 8^th position were secured by Amitha Wickramasinghe. 5^th to 8^th position were secured by Amitha Wickramasinghe (Sri Lanka) Yashika Rahubuddhe (Sri Lanka), Udeshika Kumari (Sri Lanka) and Elisa Martinelli (Italy) respectively.

Indian Pair bagged the Men’s Doubles Trophy when R.M. Shankara & M. Nataraj defeated Sri Lanka Pair Chamil Cooray & Nishant Fernando at 20-25, 23-18, 25-14. Hennce India lost the Silver Medal in Men Doubles and secured Bronze when Yogesh Pardeshi & R. Arokiaraj defeated another Sri Lanka pair G. Goonewardena & Viraj Fernando at 20-15, 25-13.

In Women Doubles Indian players won Gold & Silver Medal when Rashmi Kumari & P. Nirmala clinched the Women Doubles trophy defeating another Indian Pair Illavazhaki & G. Revathy. Whereas Sri Lanka Pairs Udeshika Kumari & A. D’souza and A. Wickramasinghe & Yasika Rahubauddhe were at 3^rd and 4^th plce respectively.

Major set back to India was the first time in Carrom history India lost Men Team Championship title against Sri Lanka. Followed by U.K. and Germany at 3^rd & 4^th places.

In Women Team Championship India retained the title defeating Sri Lanka in final. Whereas, France and Japan secured 3^rd & 4^th position respectively.

In the swiss league, Indian player M. Nataraj defeated his team mate Yogesh Pardesi in Final . D. Kubendra Babu was at third place when he defeated Nishant Fernado of Sri Lanka in playoff match.

Indian players R. Arokiaraj, R.M. Shankara, Sandeep Deorukhkar, Pakasjh Gaekwad and Jitendra Kale secured 5,6,15,16.and 26 poswition respectively. Whereas Women Players P. Nirmala wo was at 7 was top in Womens follwed by I. Illavazhaki at 11, Rashmi Kumari at 13, Kavita Somanchi at 19, Sangeeta Chandorkar at 20, G. Revathy at 21, Anuraju at 3-, and Anupama kedar at 37. All IndianWomen players i.e. 8 in numbers amongst the 1 to 11 of Women section.

Shri S. K. Sharma informed that it is alarming for India to prepare in better way for the next International. 24 Slams (19 whites & 5 black) in which European players from U. K. France and Japan had also secured white slam i.e. break to finish. This Championship was conducted under the Games Festivals by French Carrom Federation held at Cannes, France in which lakhs of people from all over the world visited and more over International Carrom Federation is in its 20^th years..

(M. Sharan)

Asstt. Secretary 09871487834

Bio-Data of Indian Contingent

R.M. Shankara – Current World Champion and Two times World Champion and Ex- National Champion working in Indian Airlines at Bangalore participating as a Player in Men Team. If he wins he will set a new record of Winning World Championship third time.

R. Arokia Raj – World No. 2 in the 1^st World Carrom Championship participating as a player in Men Team. He is employed in Central Bank of India at Chennai and player of Bank Sports Board.

M. Nataraj – Winner of 1^st World Cup participating as player in Men Team. He is employed in India Airlines at Coimbatore.

Yogesh Pardesi – Current National Champion, Ex-Saarc Champion and Ex-World No. 2 participating as a player in Men Team. He is employed in Indian Oil Corporation, Pune and player of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board.

Sandeep Deorukhkar – Ex National Champion and Current SAARC Champion participate as a player in Swiss league of the Championship. He is employed in Oil & Natural Gass Commission, Mumbai and representing Petroleum Sports Promotion Board

D. Kubendra Babu – Ex- SAARC Champion & Winner of 2^nd French Open Carrom Championship, will play in Swiss league of the Championship. D. Kubendra Babu who is son of great Carrom Player S. Dilli is working in Customs Department, Chennai.

Jitendra Kale – Jitendra Kale, working in Indian Audit & Accounts Department, Mumbai will play in Swiss League of the Championship.

Prakash Gaikwad : Prakash Gaikwad, working in Life Insurance Corporation of India will play in Swiss League pf the Championship.

Rashmi Kumari - Ex-World Champion and Winner of 1^st World Cup & Ex-National Champion will participate as a player in Women Team. Rashmi is employed in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. at Patna (Bihar).

I. Illavazhaki – Winner of 2^nd World Cup, Two times SAARC Champion and National Champion in currently concluded Senior National Championship will participate as a player in Women Team. She hails from a poor family at Chennai and youngest participants.

P. Nirmala – Ex-SAARC Champion, Ex- World No. 2 and 6 times National Champion will participate as a player in Women Team. She is employed in LIC of India at Mumbai.

G. Revathi – Ex-World Champion & Ex-National Champion will participate as a player in Women Team. She is employed in Indian Bank, Chennai.

Kavita Somanchi – Ex-Delhi Champion and employed in Reserve Bank of India at Bangslore Kavita Somanchi. Who is daughter of a Great Carrom player of India as well as Delhi will participate in Swiss League of the Championship.

Contd..2

::2::

Anuraju – Ex- World Champion and Ex- National Champion employed in the Office of Comptroller General of Defence Accounts at Chennai will participate in Swiss league of the Championship.

Sangeeta Chandorkar – Ex World No. 2 & Ex-National Champion and an employee of Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai will participate in Swiss league of the Championship.

Anupama Kedar – Ex-National Champion and Winner of 1^st US Open Carrom Championship and honoured with Chatrapati Shivaji Award Anupama Kedar will participate in Swiss league of the Championship.

Shri S. S. Prasad, IAS - President, Haryana Carrom Association was Manager of Indian Men Team

Smt. Kamna Yadav = General Secretary Fridabad District Carrom Association accompanying was Manager of Indian Women Team.

Shri Bharat Bhushan - General Secretary, Bihar State Carrom Association and Vice President of All India Carrom Federation was Coach.

Shri S. K. Sharma - General Secretary, All India Carrom Federation, Secretary General International Carrom Federation was Championship Director

Shri Ratan Singh, IRS, - Vice President, International Carrom Federation participated in the meetings. Shri

Shri P. Raveendran – Asstt. General Secretary, All India Carrom Federation, General Secretary, Kerala State Carrom Association and Chairman Umpires Commission of ICF was Technical Director.

Shri V. D. Narayan - General Secretary, Delhi Carrom Association & International Umpire was Asstt. Chief Referee

Shri T. Dhiren Singh – General Secretary, All Manipur Carrom Association and International Umpire was Umpire.

Shri Vijay Kumar - General Secretary of Chhattisgarh & International Umpire was an Umpire

Shri S. Gupte – International Umpire from Gujarat was an Umpire

Shri Chandrasekhar – Internaitonal Umpire from Delhi was an Umpire

M. Sharan

Asstt. Secretary

To,

The Sports Editor

Result at a Glance

5^thWorld Carrom Championship

Medal’s Tally

Position	Name of the Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	India	6	5	4	15
2	Sri Lanka	1	2	1	4
3	United Kingdom	0	0	1	1
4	France	0	0	1	1
5	Germany	0	0	0	0
6	Japan	0	0	0	0
7	USA	0	0	0	0
8	Italy	0	0	0	0
9	Pakistan	0	0	0	0
10	Canada	0	0	0	0

Team Championship

Positions	Men	Women
Winner	Sri Lanka	India
Runner	India	Sri Lanka
3^rd Place	United Kingdom	France
4^th Place	Germany	Japan

Singles Event

Position	Men	Women
Winner	Yogesh Pardeshi (India)	I. Illavazhaki (India)
Runner	M. Nataraj (India)	P. Nirmala (India)
3^rd Place	R. M. Shankara (India)	Rashmi Kumari (India)
4^th Place	R. Arokiaraj (India)	G. Revathi (India)
5^th Place	D. Nishant Fernando (Sri Lanka),	Amitha Wickramasinghe (Sri Lanka)
6^th Place	Sumahar Ali (UK),	Yashika Rahubuddhe (Sri Lanka),
7^th Place	Shake Challa (USA)	Udeshika Kumari (Sri Lanka)
8^th Place	Nazrul Islam (UK)	Elisa Martinelli (Italy).

Doubles Event

Position	Men	Women
Winner	R.M. Shankara & M. Nataraj (India)	Rashmi Kumari & P. Nirmala (India)
Runner	Pair Chamil Cooray & Nishant Fernando (Sri Lanka)	Illavazhaki & G. Revathy (India)
3^rd Place	Yogesh Pardeshi & R. Arokiaraj (India)	Udeshika Kumari & A. D’souza (Sri Lanka)
4^th Place	G. Goonewardena & Viraj Fernando (Sri Lanka)	Wickramasinghe & Yasika Rahubauddhe (Sri Lanka)

Swiss League Krishan Sharma Championship (Result in Detail)

Winner:    M. Nataraj,   India
Runner-up:   Yogesh Pradeshi,   India
3rd. :        Fernando, Nishantha,   Sri Lanka
4th. :        Kubendra Babu,   India
5.th.:        Arokia Raj,       India
6th. :       Shankara R.M.,   India
7th.:        Nirmala P.,       India
8th.:        Goonewardene Germain,   Sri Lanka
9th.:        Challa Shekhar,   USA
10th:        Abdin, Karnal,   U.K.
11th:       I Iilavazhaki, India
12th:       Cooray, Chamil,   Sri Lanka
13th:        Kumari, Rashmi,   India
14th        Dubois, Pierre,   France
15.        Deourukhkar Sandeep, India
16.        Gaikwad, Prakash   India
17.        Rahubadda, Yasika Sri Lanka
18.        Fernando, Viraj   Sri Lanka
19.        Somanchi, Kavita   India
20.        Chandorkar, Sangeeta, Indian
21.        Revathy, G.       India
22.        Islam, Nazrul       U.K.
23.        Scheuerl, Thomas   Germany
24.        Collard, Steeve   France
25.        Leau Jonathan   France
26.        Kale, Jitender , India
27.        Boecker, Peter   Germany
28.        Abdus, Suja       U.K.
29.        Pereira, Fabian   France
30.        Anuraju, India
31.        Cristiani, Gianluca   Italy
32.        Mallishetti, Shreenivas   U.S.A
33.        Khan, Amir       Pakistan
34.        Polchow, Dirk   Germany
35.       Katu, Neil       U.S.A
36.       Karangutkar, Vishal   U.S.A
37.       Kedar, Anupama   India
38.        Ramoneda, Rodrigo   Italy
39.        Matsubara, Toru   Japan
40.        Cieply,Jeremy   France
41.        Cianarella, Franck   France
42.        Kumari Udeshika   Sri Lanka
43.        Martinelli, Paulo   Italy
44.        Sunahar Ali, Mohammed   U.K.
45.        Motta, Claudio   Italy
46.        Venou, Mouraly
47.        Ubhayathunga, Amitha   Italy
48.        Kumar, Ish       U.K.
49.        Rodrigo Lal       Italy
50.        Baldin, Sebastien
51.        Wickremasinghe, Amitha   Sri Lanka
52.        Zulfee, Murtaza Khan   Pakistan
53.        Frauenrath, Ingo   Germany
54.        Malik, Abdul       U.K.
55.        Nessakh, Karim   France
56.        Hussain, Nadir   Pakistan
57.        Laumaille, Therese   France
58.        Merkoulova, Katia   France
59.        Verina, Verina   Germany
60.        Martinelli, Elisa   Italy
61.       Ali, Ramzan       Pakistan
62.        Roumegous, Florence   France
63.        Neuhauser, emilie   France
64.        Katano, Hideki   Japan
65.        Yaqoob Bapoo
66.        De Souza, Assumption   Canada

Indian Women Players position in Swiss League

Rank in Position Name of Indian Players

Women in Swiss League

1^st 7^th Place P. Nirmala

2^nd 11^th Place I. Illavazhaki

3^rd 13^th Place Rashmi Kumari

5^th 19^th Place Kavita Somanchi

6^th 20^th Place Sangeeta Chandorkar

7^th 21^st Place G. Revathy (Women No.6)

9^th 30^th Place Anuraju

11^th 37^th Place Anupama Kedar

Felicitations

A warm reception was extended at IGI Airport, New Delhi in the leadership of Shri M. Sharan, Asstt. Secretary and members of one NGO Dalit Group.

The Team was given reception by Shri J.P. Agarwal, M.P., President, DPCC and Chairman, All India Carrom Federation in the parliament. Team was introduced by Mr. P. Raveendran, Asstt. General Secretary, All India Carrom Federation to Shri J. P. Agarwal. Then a lunch was hosted by Shri J. P. Agarwal.

After that on the request of Shri Jai Prakash Agarwal and thereafter follow up made by Shri Prabhjit Singh Bachher, General Secretary of Vidarbha Carrom Association through Shri Hanumant Rao Deshpande and Shri Ravindar Singh Jadhav, IAS, Personal Secretary to Hon’ble President of India, H.E. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Hon’ble President of India had a meeting with Indian Team on 21^st Febrauary, 2008 and blessed the Indian Carrom Team on their victory. At that occasion, Shri Sarabjit Singh, President of All India Carrom Federation and World Carrom Champion (Women) I. Illavazhaki extended reception to Hon’ble President of India as she entered in the hall with bouquet. Shri J.P. Agarwal, had also shown his presence and presented a set of Carrom to Hon’ble President. Shri S. K. Sharma, General Secretary, introduiced the Indian Carrom Team to Hon’ble President of India and detailed in brief about carom and some difficulties in the promotion. The function ended with a Photo session with Hon’ble President of India.

Before the visit to France Smt. Sonia Gandhi, M.P., President of Indian National Congress Party and Chairperson of UPA had sent a Message to the Indian Carrom Team which is appended below :

(We are waiting for the reports from other countries. ICF-Meida Commission)