THE QUEEN OF CARROM
City girl Husna Sameera is on record breaking spree. With each year, she breaks her own record and sets a new benchmark
They say ‘practice makes perfect’ and Husna Sameera from Hyderabad is proving the adage right day after day. The 16year-old recently made the country proud by setting a Guinness world record for playing carrom — for 34 hours 45 minutes and 56 seconds — at a stretch. All thanks to her daily practice of the game for six hours and the backing from her parents and teachers. “I wouldn’t be anything without their support. They acknowledged my passion for the game from early on,” says Husna.
Husna is not new to creating or breaking records, though. She has played 23 Nationals in all categories and broke her own world record of playing the game at a stretch for 20 hours, 20 minutes and 20 seconds with 20 players in 2015. Another of her earlier records was of 18 hours, 18 minutes, and 18 seconds. “Perhaps it’s in my genes. All my family members are passionate about carrom,” she explains. Winning titles works as a confidence booster for her. Her first win was just after she started playing, when she was in Class V. “When I won the first round at the Subjunior National competition, I knew my calling. My first medal came from the game for which I hadn’t taken any coaching. It was special as it coincided with my birthday. It was the best gift till date,” says Husna.
Husna loves the game’s scientific nature. The slightest change of angle while playing makes or breaks the game. “It is what makes me cling to it. My college holds special classes for me as I don’t get to attend it regularly. Help from government would motivate me further,” she says. According to her, carrom helps one focus better. “I can see how carrom has helped me concentrate on stud- THE ALL-ROUNDER: She has also won awards for calligraphy and Mathematics ies. My ranks have improved by leaps and bounds,” she adds.
No wonder then, that she has other achievements up her sleeve, like the Nipuna National award for calligraphy in 2013 and Little Star award for speed Math in 2014. “I want to excel in all the things I pursue — be it academics, carrom or dancing and singing. Balancing everything is my talent,” says Husna.
Apart from carrom and studies, it is her love for dancing and singing which keeps her going. She has her future plans sorted too, “I will continue my higher studies in English and make a career out of it. I’ll also continue to play carrom and break more records,” she signs off.