CARROM UMPIRING AND PLAYING TECHNIQUES IN BANGKOK, THAILAND

Date: 16 & 17 September 2023

Day: Saturday & Sunday

Venue: Akara Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.

Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm

Carrom activities provide space to socialize, interact and foster the value of friendship in the community. Since its discovery, carrom has transcended culture, language, social, economic, political and now continues to grow. Carrom is a form of mechanism that mobilizes small and large organizations involving players, coaches, managers and organizers. Carrom that is under the international carrom federation has the potential and commercial value to be developed in all corners of the world. Currently there are four famous championships under the International Carrom Federation namely, ICF Cup, Asia Cup, Euro Cup, World Cup and World Carrom Championship.

Today European countries promote international carrom through street demos and tournaments. While India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have gone a long way with programs starting at school, colleges and universities. Other countries are still struggling to promote carrom in their respective countries and most countries still do not know this game exists. We need to give the youth an opportunity to develop their carrom skills more deeply so that they can face challenges and be able to compete at the world level.

Carrom is the best medium for a healthy mind and body although some doubt it because of the limited physical movement. Carrom is also actually able to build a healthy body because there are various movements when playing and it requires physical strength. Carrom activities provide many benefits towards a healthy and fit lifestyle while fostering a positive spirit of competition and friendship. It is even recognized that carrom is also the only effective method to strengthen the spirit of belonging and build family relationships.

Realizing the benefits of carrom activities, the tournament needs to be held as a proper mechanism towards forming strong support from the community. It is not impossible that the determination of individuals, associations and authorities such as the government who are directly involved in sports activities will bring carrom to a higher level. We are big fans of carrom and want to see carrom continue to grow and be accepted around the world. And today, Thailand invites My Carrom Academy to realize their dream of learning and establishing carrom in this country. We took this golden opportunity to teach them and at the same time add another new family to the existing ICF family.

The two day course here is like a spark and will gradually become a small fire and then spread into a big fire. My Carrom Academy imparts and transfers knowledge, skills and experience. Although the course is a very short period of time to learn everything, the basics given are enough to get started. After this, the participants already know the basic knowledge and can start moving to carry out carrom activities in small groups and gradually towards a larger scale.

At the moment all the participants are not yet established in terms of laws and techniques but they can start and don't wait too long because if they don't, then it will fail. Learning all the laws of the game and becoming highly skilled in the game takes years. Game knowledge and techniques can be learned slowly and even good players continue learning. Courses and tournaments need to start regularly so that the plan to promote carrom in Thailand is not half way.

We arrived early @ KLIA 2

Upon arriving at Akara hotel, our good friend waited for us and served a special welcome dinner.

   

Wall of fame at the main entrance of Akara Hotel.

Akara Hotel Bangkok, 372 Sri Ayudhya Road, Thanon Phyathai Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400. The venue of Carrom Umpiring and Playing techniques course.

Dining area beside the swimming pool on the 18 floors.

Set up the laptop and system before starting.

The system is ready to go.

The first day and the participants took their seats.

The class starts with standard equipment, Interpretation of the game and covers all important parts of laws of carrom.

Focus and try to follow what the facilitator says.

Q & A session.

Q & A session.

Many things are discussed and the participants can follow what is presented even if they are still new.

The 2nd day and the participants move to another room for a practical session.

In this course we also show the actual game so participants can see the technique of the game and how the umpire controls the game. During the game, players intentionally make mistakes so that the umpire can catch the mistakes made by the players.

The games ends and the participants calculate the final score and draw the conclusion.

It is not the autograph but after the match the player had to sign the scorecard.

A small token of appreciation to Mr. Nirutti Nilkaew as leader of the group while Mr. Kamarudin and Mr. Suhaizan on behalf of My Carrom Academy.

From right Mr. Parinya Ammarin, Mrs Vasuntara Ammarin, Mr. Nirutti Nilkaew, Mr. Suhaizan and Mr. Kamarudin. The three of them are behind the success of the course.  

From left Mrs. Masnoora, Ms. Norzalina, Mr. Parinya Ammarin, Mr. Nirutti Nilkaew, Mr. Suhaizan and Mr. Kamarudin.  

The participants celebrated with their certificate and they should be proud because the first batch of learning carrom in Thailand.

Mr. Kamarudin conducts the umpiring and Mr. Suhaizan conducts playing techniques. The two ladies are Malaysian players Mrs. Masnoora and Ms. Norzalina who assisted during the programme.

One for the album with the participants on the rooftop of the Akara Hotel.

 

Participants attended the course for two days and there were a few more participants who could not be together today.

A variety of local dishes during the tea break.

 

A special dinner by Mr. Nirutti Nilkaew at the 2nd tallest building Baiyoke Sky Hotel in Bangkok. Dinner on the 74th floor and the revolving floor on the top floor which is the 84th floor. I managed to record one full rotation at 8 minutes.

Buffet style and finger licking good. 

Seafood is the main choice during dinner.

Standing at the landmark of 84 floors Baiyoke Sky Hotel

Appreciation goes to Mrs. Masnoora and Ms. Norzalina who came along and showed their skills and we hope the participants can learn something during our game.

One for the album in front of Akara Hotel. From Right Mr. Suhaizan, Mrs Masnoora, Ms. Norzalina and Mr. Kamarudin.

Akara Hotel good hospitality and lovely food.

Behind me is the Mahanak Mosque which is an old mosque.

The last meal on the way to the airport we stopped at the Mahanak Mosque and ate fried noodles and satay. The satay tasted so good and we ordered extra.

Farewell to our good friends and hope to see you again in the near future. From left Mr. Suhaizan, Mrs Vasuntara Ammarin, Mr. Parinya Ammarin and Mr. Kamarudin.

I would like to suggest that Thailand can start promoting international carrom to the public. I dare say that one day Thailand will overtake Malaysia because Malaysia has local rules (Local game). The local game is more popular and easy to attract people because of the tournaments that are everywhere and get support from carrom fans all over Malaysia. My Carrom Academy which is the first carrom academy in Malaysia has a mission to promote international carrom in Malaysia with its own initiative through blogs, YouTube, workshops, training and tournaments. However, we also support local carrom and we hope that both carroms move forward side by side in the future.

Last day in Bangkok and accompany friend to buy souvenirs.

You cannot learn all at once because it is impossible but if you learn continuously and keep the momentum, eventually you will gain knowledge and skills. Through the learning process you feel happy even if it takes years because what you pursue, you will finally get.

You can follow my blogs and subscribe my YouTube channel:

http://komunitikarom.blogspot.com (International carrom)

http://karommalaysia.blogspot.com (Local carrom)

YouTube channel: carrom for all