Shaik Husna Sameera created a world record by playing carroms for 20 hours, 20 minutes and 20 seconds
Shaik Husna Sameera at Lal Bahadur Stadium
Saturday was a big day for 15-year-old Shaik Husna Sameera, who created a world record by playing carroms from Friday 5 pm to Saturday 4 pm — a whole 20 hours, 20 minutes and 20 seconds — at Lal Bahadur Stadium Complex. She broke her previous record of 18 hours, 18 minutes and 18 seconds, she made in Vizag in 2014.
“I was very confident about finishing the record as I had practised a lot. I played for 20 hours every Saturday and Sunday for eight consecutive weeks,” says Husna, who has played 20 National-level matches.
During the challenge, for every one hour, she took a 5-minute break to warm up. Her opponents, too, changed every hour.
It all started in 2009 when Husna’s uncle Shaik Abdul Janeel, a carrom coach himself, saw her play and decided to train her. She has two other coaches Martin and P. Suresh Kumar. “I train only on weekends but practise every day after college,” says Husna, who is pursuing Intermediate first year from Sri Gayathri Junior College. The management is offering her free education.
Shaik Husna Sameera with her mother Sajida
“I attempted the record to promote the game of carrom in the country. Every day you hear about tournaments being held in tennis, badminton etc., but carrom is hardly on the list. I feel that carrom too should be given equal priority and should also be included in the Olympics,” she says.
Husna’s stint is now a part of 18 World Records including Wonder Book of Records and Telangana Book of Records among others. The cost for the World Record Attempt was sponsored by three national banks and the management from the college had sponsored food.
Husna’s mother Sajida wants the government to support those who are talented. “We wouldn’t have been able to bear the expenses if sponsors had not come forward. I urge the government to help those who are talented because not everyone will be lucky enough to find sponsors,” says Sajida, who, with her husband Abdul Khadar, has been supporting their
daughter’s talent throughout. Husna, however, doesn’t stop to dream. “My goal is to be the World Champion,” she says.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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