Itching Fingers

Carrom has an intelligent beauty about it, and also a lot of Newtonian physics.
If measuring the right force, mass and acceleration to propel a disk with the force emanated from the tip of one's fingers is a crucial aspect of carrom, having an intution for Euclidian geometry is another. How to knock one of your coins that is partially eclipsed by your opponent's piece into a pocket is a skill that mixes neuro-engineering with a politician's feel for the force. And when a particularly acute-angled shot leads to a coin sliding across the wooden board and into a pocket--hit not too hard that the striker too goes in but also not too slow that the disk freezes midway--we witness a beautiful act of the calibre of a Federer forehand, a Laxman leg glance or a Messi chip.
Carrom needs that kind of "theoretical support" where experts will talk about matches, make legends out of great games,build heroes,disseminate and discuss key moments of carrom history. The thought of a crisp, super slo-mo TV replay of a glorious bisecting shot pocketing a coin along with an intelligent commentary could give you goosebumps.
Sad that Chennai based A.Maria Irudayam is not a known name even in India despite being a two-time World Carrom Champion, a nine time national champion and a recipient of Arjuna Award.