Her passion lies in striking carrom coins that needs not just skill but also great mental aptitude. Keen observation, high level of concentration are also important. Shaik Husna Sameera not only showed these attributes but exhibited endurance, concentration and stamina during her non-stop game of carrom – 20 hours, 20 minutes, 20 seconds with 20 players at the Yoga Hall of Lal Bahadur Stadium on Sunday.
The 15-year-old began her mission at 6 pm on Friday and it ended at 20 seconds past 4 pm the next day.
“It is not for any personal gain but my aim is to make the game more popular and take it to global level,” said Husna about one of the most popular indoor games in the country.BK Harnath, president of Hyderabad Carrom Association, called Husna’s a unique feat. As for the the intermediate student from Sri Gayathri College, Dishukhnagar, she broke her own record of 18 hours, 18 minutes, and 18 seconds with 18 players in 2014 at Visakhapatnam. “I feel proud. I never got tired or bored even as my opponents showed signs of fatigue. They asked me how I could perform. Carrom is all about concentration. I think by playing the game, I have become more focused in my life and it also gives me a lot of self-belief,” said the young player, who had to work hard in mentally preparing herself for the record and the game too. “It is not easy. I had to exercise, both mental and physical, for this record. I’m happy that I could successfully achieve it,’’ said Husna who only took short breakd for refreshments. “In Vizag, I won 51 games.
But it was not about winning the games but more about being involved in the game,” quipped Husna who was attracted to the game at a young age. She won the sub-junior nationals and remained a champion for three years. She reigned supreme in the Junior Nationals in 2013 before breaking this feat.