Rs. 3 crore has been sanctioned for the purpose: Bopaiah
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly K.G. Bopaiah said on Saturday that a committee comprising senior sportspersons in the district would be constituted to monitor laying of synthetic hockey playing turf at Ponnampet in Virajpet taluk of Kodagu soon.
He was speaking at the finals of the Kodava Invitation Cup Hockey Tournament at Ammathi.
The proposed ground where the synthetic surface would be laid was in the name of the Government Junior College. The name had to be changed.
The State Government had sanctioned Rs. 3 crore for the purpose. The estimation to renovate the defunct swimming pool in Madikeri too had been increased from Rs. 80 lakh to Rs. 1 crore, he said.
He lauded the sports tradition of Kodagu which was being followed steadfastly by the younger generations. Organising events such as this would immensely benefit the rural talent.
The support received from sportspersons and sports enthusiasts who had settled outside the district was also laudable, said Mr. Bopaiah. The State Government had been paying more attention to sports in Kodagu. It had assisted the two previous Kodava family hockey festivals and would continue to do so in future, Mr. Bopaiah said.
Bollanda Pramila Aiyappa, bronze medal winner in heptathlon in the recent Asian Games, was honoured. Lullu Aiyappa, grandmother of badminton star Machimanda Ashwini Ponnappa, and Kuttanda Chinappa, father of squash player Joshna Chinappa, received the honour in their absentia.
Malettira Muthanna was adjudged the best forward of the tournament, Mundottira Pavan Chengappa the best goalkeeper, Appanderanda Cariappa best full-back, Bollachettira Poovanna best half-back. Bollachettira Moni Muthanna was adjudged the best upcoming player.
Kootanda Ganesh was honoured with the ‘Titan of Players’ award. Karineravanda Somanna was adjudged the best player of the tournament.
The president of the Ammathi Sports Club, which organised the tournament, Naru Nachappa, presided over the function. Ichanda Vinod, Mukkatira Pemmaiah, Mandepanda Jimmy Subbaiah, Puggera Devaiah, Kanjitanda Sunil Muddaiah, Machimanda M. Mohan, L.N. Ajay Singh, Nellamakkada Mohan Aiyappa and B.J. Bopanna were among those present.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Karnataka / by Staff Correspondent / Madikeri – December 26th, 2010
