Clubbing since 1968

CHENNAI: It’s an inconspicuous room on the main bustling road at Thiruvanmiyur. It could be easily missed, and mistaken for a green-coloured one-room settlement, until one reads the banner ‘Ajantha Sports Club’. On a closer look, you can see a dim light from a low-hanging lamp above an elevated carrom table. This carrom room with its orange walls and a small green door is fifty years old. “My grandfather played here, then my father and now me.

It’s sort of a legacy, and it is special to be part of it,” said one of the members. The club opens at 8 am but has the maximum footfall in the evening. The regulars here play for hours at a stretch and the games may go beyond 10 pm. The membership is restricted to those whose families have lived in this neighbourhood for generations. Most people who visit the club work as construction workers at different levels — plumbers, electricians, drivers and so on. However, members say that anyone can stop by to play a game or two.

There is no age limit. But, there is a cutoff time for schoolchildren. “Generally kids come after school. So 4 pm to 6 pm we have a lot of students,” says 28-yearold Ranjith Kumar, who works as a daily wage worker. “I have been playing here since I was born and there is nothing else I would rather do every evening. I look forward to getting together with my friends and playing a good game of carom,” he added. For some of the children who study in the Corporation School in Thiruvanmiyur, the place is a godsend. “I feel happy when I play.

I forget all the pressures of academics and just have fun with friends. It’s also a chance for us to get away from any troubles we face at home,” said 15-year-old M Nandeshkumar. Other children echo his thoughts. The club doubles up as a safe space and an escape from hardships for children and adults. “For those few hours, I shut out all my other troubles and focus purely on the game,” says N Sathish whose three teenage sons play at the centre.

“Nothing else matters and that’s the beauty of the game. It teaches you concentration and the importance of focus,” he shares. The club also has kabaddi, cricket, and volleyball for members. Kabaddi is popular and every year during Pongal, a tournament is organised for the members. One of the highlights is the annual women’s kabaddi tournament.

“We wear pants and baniyans too,” said 60-yearold S Saroja, who was the team captain last year. “We play only once a year with barely any practice but it is such a delight. It is something we look forward to because we play with people from our community. It develops a sense of camaraderie and respect for each other,” she adds.