The United States Carrom Association (USCA @uscarrom.org) successfully concluded the MATA XXIX US Nationals Carrom Championship, held from May 2nd to May 4th in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. A record of more than 150 players from 22 states participated, according to a press release from the organization.
For the first time, USCA and Mana American Telugu Association joined forces to host the big tournament.
The 29th U.S. National Carrom Tournament drew participants and fans from across the country. “This event was not only a celebration of skill and sportsmanship but also a testament to the power of collaboration between organizations with a shared vision for promoting carrom,” organizers said.
MATA XXIX US Nationals Doubles Winner Preeti and Panna (L)
The USCA core committee led the initiative and was responsible for the tournament’s success, organizers. The core committee consisted of: Atul Bhave – President; Chandrashekar Dashudu – Vice President; Roshan Muhsin – Secretary; Roshan Rauff – Tournament Director; Veerraju Dhavileswarapu – Treasurer; Srikanth Munagala – Associate Vice President; Shailesh Mokashi – Logistics Director; and Shakeel Baig – Deputy Secretary.
USCA thanked MATA for being the tournament’s title sponsor. “MATA’s contributions played a pivotal role in making the event a grand success,” organizers said. They specially thanked Suresh Kajana, MATA Sports Director, “whose dedication and leadership were instrumental throughout the planning and execution of the tournament.”
In the highly competitive Men’s Singles final, Ajay Arora of Pennsylvania secured his second national title, triumphing over Vikas Koshti of Texas who played his first US Nationals Finals. with scores of 25-11 and 23-14. Defending champion Deep Joshi of Washington claimed third place, notably defeating Preeti Jhakotia from California, the 2025 Doubles Champion and current Women’s World #3. Ms. Jhakotia, alongside Panna Chowdhury also from California, clinched the Doubles Championship, overcoming the duo of Ashok (California) and Shibu Jose (Dallas). The tournament also witnessed exceptional skill displays with Madhu Kalya from Dallas and Ajay Arora each executing a “white slam.”
A landmark achievement of this year’s event was the launch of the first-ever Juniors US Nationals, seen as a “vital investment in the future of carrom, aimed at engaging youth and cultivating emerging talent.|
At the inaugural Junior championships, Aditya Godugu, age [15], earned the championship title. Advaith Godugu, age [17], secured the second position, and Vaidehi Kadam, age [13], finished third. The enthusiasm and skill displayed by these young competitors signal a vibrant future for the sport.
The MATA XXIX US Nationals also achieved a new milestone in global audience engagement through its strategic partnership with SportivAI. An impressive 150 Singles and Doubles matches were live-streamed, featuring dynamic score overlays and advanced analytics. This initiative garnered 18,000 views and 1,600 watch hours within just two days of the event.
Carrom Pro, another valued partner, provided technical support for commentary for the Singles and Doubles Finals, allowing thousands of international viewers to experience the championship action live and free of charge.
The closing ceremony was attended by several distinguished community and political leaders including: Shanti Narra, Middlesex County Commissioner; Upendra Chivukula, NJ Board of Public Utilities’ Shahab Khan, Jersey City Council candidate; Mussab Ali, Jersey City Mayoral candidate; and Nitesh Patel, Edison Council President
MATA XXIX US Nationals Singles Winner Ajay Arora
USCA President Atul Bhave and MATA President Ramana K Kiran Duddagi delivered the closing remarks, thanking all participants, guests, and supporters.
MATA XXIX US Nationals Singles Runner Up Vikas K
The closing ceremony included a special cultural performance by well-known Indian music director Raghu Kunche and celebrated playback singer Anjana Sowmya, who flew in from India for the occasion.
A total prize purse exceeding $9,200 was distributed, with cash prizes awarded across all categories, made possible through Title Sponsor MATA’s support.
Other sponsors included SportivAI, Unify Sports Academy Foundation, New York Life, Dosa & Biryani House, Cell Revolution, Carrom Pro, Baymont Inn, RealTech, adAmerindo, and Sasha Realty. Media partners included ITV Gold, Parikh World Media among others.
Behind the scenes, the volunteer team was led by Sricharan Kajana. Organizers credited a strong officiating team with the success of the tournament, including the referee panel, led by Chief Referee Sam Mallisetti, and supported by Arun Kumar, Laxminarayanapuram Subramanian, Panna Chowdhury, Umakanth Pandurangaiah, Oscar Philips, and Yogi Narayan. The commentary panels relayed the progress and included Dr. Nilesh Mehta, Murali Balasubramaniam, Shibu Jose, Mandar Ashtekar, Bala Parthasarathy & Atul Bhave.
