Husna Sameera now a Guinness girl!

Hyderabad: It ranks alongside badminton, table tennis and polo, as a sport that ostensibly originated on Indian soil. Although, an indoor sport, it enjoys popularity in over 50 countries, implying that its reach is farther and deeper than cricket, which is played in a handful of nations.

There is an unequivocal uniqueness to carom and the two Telugu-speaking States, which have produced an amazing array of world champions and global ambassadors.

To this genre belongs 16-year-old Shaik Husna Sameera, the Hyderabad-based multiple-award winner, who recently put the country on the world map, albeit on an enviously different platform.

Saturday marked a day of celebration for Husna Sameera, who was the cynosure of all eyes at the Press Club of Hyderabad where she was felicitated for a remarkable accomplishment she achieved in the last week of December.

Speakers ranging from Dr Neeraj Sampathy, President, All India Carrom Federation and BK Haranath, the pioneering face of Indian carrom, to Santosh Kumar, a passionate sports promoter from Nizambad, took pride in extolling the young Husna and hailing her exploits that helped land with the ultimate recognition-Guinness World Record!

In a glowing tribute, the Guinness certificate acknowledges-The longest carrom playing marathon is one of 34 hrs 45 mins and 56 secs, achieved by Shaik Husna Sameera and Allada Pavan (both India) in Andhra Pradesh, India, on 25-26 December 2016.

The ‘historic’ non-stop feat that the teenager and 22-year-old Pavan exemplifying grit, determination and loads of patience was achieved at the DRRMC Indoor Stadium in Vijayawada on 2016 Boxing Day.

The record attempt was coordinated by the specially deputed Guinness Book of Records observer Squadron Leader Jayasimha.

Effectively, it erased the long-standing 2005 record of 32 hours and 45 seconds set by Narayan Paranjpe, Atul Kharecha, Prakash Kagal and Pramod Sen in Texas.

In her thanksgiving, Husna paid tributes to her coaches and mentors, Shaik Abdul Jaleel, Suresh Kumar, Sampathy and Haranath for instilling confidence in her and making her believe that she could take on the world and her parents Sk Abdul Khadar and Sajida for braving economic hardships to help her realise her dream.

‘I wish to be the world’s youngest champion,’ she declared to a loud applause. Her resume boasts of several firsts in competitive tournaments, including 23 nationals in different age-groups.

The latest shot at fame was not the first, though. Husna played against 20 opponents for 20 hours, 20 minutes and 20 seconds at Lal Bahadur Stadium here from October 16 to 17, 2015 to give notice about her ‘marathon’ skills.

Meanwhile, the second year Intermediate student of Sri Gayatri Junior College in Chaitanyapuri made it clear that her immediate focus would be academics and ‘preparing for the annual examinations that are round the corner’.