The banner at the entrance of a dilapidated building with a thatched roof over it reads: Ella Pugazhum Iraivan Oruvanuke (all glory belongs to God). On the banner is a picture of a young girl who has just made history in the sport of carrom.
As you enter the building — it’s a coaching centre run by Mahboob Basha in Cherian Nagar, a 10-15 minute walk from Tollgate (a north Chennai neighbourhood) — a frail girl, wearing a dark tracksuit and a blue India jersey, walks briskly and introduces herself.
She then enters a hall that has six carrom boards with hardly any space between them and begins chatting casually with the kids, aged between six and 16, who are all busy playing.
M.B. Khazima, who recently bagged three titles — women’s singles, women’s doubles (with V. Mithra), and women’s team championship — in the Carrom World Cup in the San Francisco Bay Area (USA), has a no-nonsense approach to life and sport.
The daughter of an autorickshaw driver, it has been a journey filled with struggles for the Chennai lass. All that looks to be over, for now. In recognition of her exploits, the Tamil Nadu Government awarded the youngest World Cup champion in the world with a cash prize of ₹1 crore.
Mahboob Basha, father, coach, mentor, and guide to the World Cup champion, is the driving force behind his daughter’s rise. He struggled financially and sought help to ensure his daughter could take part in tournaments. When the COVID-19 lockdown struck, the family faced further hardships.
Difficult phase
“During lockdown, I couldn’t ride my auto and started selling tea for a living. It was a very difficult time. Seeing our family struggle, my son, a former junior national carrom champion, began to work in a private company. We are indebted to the Tamil Nadu Government, the Chief Minister Mr. M. K. Stalin and the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin for helping us financially,” said Basha.
Impressed with Khazima’s brilliant performance in the World Cup, the State Government has promised to renovate the coaching centre and work is expected to start soon.
“We now have around 40 players, many of them are medallists at the State and National level, now. When the renovation is complete, we expect more than 100 to join us. It will be an honour if Udhayanidhi Stalin cuts the ribbon,” Basha said.
Having trained all her life at Cherian Nagar, Khazima doesn’t want to move out of the area. “My father has been here as long as I can remember, and I was born here. I want to buy a new house in and around Cherian Nagar with the money the State Government has given us,” said the World champion.
When Khazima reached San Francisco for the World Cup in November last year, she was not in her best spirits.
“I was not feeling great for a couple of days. My father was not with me. And moreover, I didn’t like the food and the weather conditions, which were very cold and of course, the time difference didn’t make it any easier. But slowly I began to get better,” said the Federation Cup champion.
After a rather easy route to the final, where she met two-time World champion Rashmi Kumari, Khazima was tested to the limits by the 12-time National singles champion. In the summit clash, Rashmi led 19-0 in the third and final game before Khazima flipped the scripts to win the crown 25-24.
Timely support
“At that time (0-19), my mind was blank. All I was thinking was ‘when will the match get over’. Trailing 0-19, Rashmi needed just six points to win. I remembered what my father used to tell me. ‘Every board, try and take four points, you will be in the game’. I did just that.
“At every board I took four points. At 24-each, I regained my confidence while Rashmi started to feel the pressure and I capitalised on it. My preparations have been to win the singles title and I am very happy. It’s all due to God’s grace,” said Khazima, whose visa was rejected twice by US authorities.
Khazima wouldn’t have participated in the World Cup if not for the timely help from the State Government. She approached Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin to finance her travel for the World Cup and within a day she was sanctioned ₹1,50,000.
“No carrom player before me has received such a huge amount. I am very happy. I’ve seen and heard many good players dropping out of the sport due to financial reasons.
Grand reception
“When we arrived at the Chennai airport after the win, we had a grand reception. All this makes me proud and happy about my achievement and also gives me hope that the sport of carrom has a bright future,” gushes Khazima, who is on a scholarship with Indian Oil Corporation.
Khazima looks forward to the day when carrom will be broadcast on television and watched by fans aplenty.
“When cricket is played, it is watched live by everyone. I want to see carrom being broadcast live. It is not that carrom is devoid of scholarships and job opportunities.
“Income Tax, IOC, ONGC, and others provide job opportunities if a player performs well,” said the 18-year-old, who is a first-year student of B.A. Corporate Economics at the Justice Basheer Syeed Ahmed College.
Khazima started playing carrom when she was six years old. She participated in many tournaments in the cadet category and when she was nine years old, she started taking part in the senior category, which helped shape her game and style.
The spark
The spark was provided by her brother Abdul Rahman, a former junior national champion, and it pushed her to take the sport seriously. Since her brother had to give up the sport to help the family, Khazima was keen to win the World Cup for him.
“I have never won against him (Abdul). Even now he doesn’t get scared of me while playing. After lockdown, he quit the sport to take care of the family. He wanted to win the World Cup. I told my father, ‘I will win the World Cup’.”
Khazima is good in almost all aspects of the game: thumbing, straight shots, and cut shots.
Her complete game is thanks to her mentors, former India player B. Radhakrishnan and Maria Irudayam, a nine-time National champion and two-time World champion who is now the Secretary of the Chennai District Carrom Association.
“Radhakrishnan sir doesn’t play anymore. Even now when we go to the Senior Nationals, people enquire about him. When he plays, people start watching him. I wanted to be like him. Irudayam sir gave us special coaching during the World Cup, which helped me in tough situations. Maria sir helped me financially as well,” said Khazima.
Bright future
According to her, India is one of the leading countries in carrom and the country can reach greater heights with better facilities from the state governments and proper support from the central government.
Having seen her father struggle to ensure she could pursue her sporting dreams, Khazima has pushed him to stop working and vowed to take care of the family going ahead.
Basha’s vehicle remains parked outside the house, fully covered. He has not renewed his licence for more than a year now. “I do not really miss riding [the autorickshaw]. But I would like to take my daughter [in it] to tournaments in and around Chennai, if possible.”
Published – February 04, 2025 12:13 am IST
