Carrom Queen Sameera recommended for Padmasri

Sincere efforts and hard work lead the road to success, goes the adage. It has been proved in the case of Guinness World Record holder in carrom Shaik Husna Sameera who hails from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. The 18-year-old surpassed the earlier record and created a new Guinness World Record by playing carrom for 34 hours 45 minutes and 56 seconds non-stop.

To acknowledge her talent, the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) honoured her by paying Rs 3 lakh towards payment of financial assistance to Shaik Husna Sameera, for creating a new world record by playing non-stop Carrom on December 25 and 26, 2016.

A few State Cabinet ministers also recommended Sameera for awards and rewards for her contribution to the sport and motivating school and college going students by organising classes and competitions. Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Welfare, and Differently-Abled Paritala Sunitha, recommended the Union Cabinet Minister Maneka Gandhi for Indian Women Achiever Award.

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has been requested by Minister for Law and Justice, Skill Development, Youth and Sports Kollu Ravindra and AP Health Minister NMD Farook to propose the name of Shaik Husna Sameera for the award of Padmasri recently.

Speaking to The Hans India, Shaik Sajida (Sameera’s mother) said that since childhood Sameera was inclined towards sports and games. Seeing her interest towards sports, they supported and encouraged her and even the teachers backed her in allowing her to practice for more than five hours a day. Sameera was also selected for international coaching camp to be held at Visakhapatnam.

She said that working hard to achieve and create records has become a passion and also broke a few records which were created by stalwarts of the game. Till now Sameera has participated in many events at the State and national level in all categories and won many championships. She was honoured with an Honorary Doctorate from Theological University affiliated by Berkeley University, California, USA, in 2017.

Husna Sameera created new world record in Carrom in juniors. This record was entered in the Books of Records of Limca, Wonder, Genius, India, Amazing, Telugu, State, Unique, Miracle, Star, Little Record books and Super Kidzee Award in the World earlier.

 - Pradeep C