Madikeri :
The traditional hockey tournament held between Kodava communities will be hosted by Shantheyanda family this year.
The tournament, which will be held between Apr.10 and May 28, has so far registered 299 teams belonging to various Kodava families.
The hockey namme will be held at two different grounds at Field Marshall K.M. Cariappa College in Madikeri.
Addressing press persons on Thursday, former ZP President Shantheyanda Ravi Kushalappa said that this year the tournament would be hosted by Shantheyanda family and added that it was after 2005, when Biddanda family hosted the tournament, that a family from Madikeri had been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the tournament.
Stating that around 5,000 players will participate in the tournament representing various families, he said that the permission from the College authorities had been sought to organise the tournament in their college premises.
He added that MP Pratap Simha had released Rs. 30 lakh from his MPLAD for the event
“A total of Rs. One crore would be spent on the tournament for which the State Government has sanctioned Rs. 40 lakh out of which Rs. 20 lakh has already been released,” he said.
A gallery to accommodate around 25,300 spectators is ready and the organisers have installed around 26 CCTV cameras to keep a watch on anti-social elements.
The tournament will be inaugurated tomorrow (Apr.10) by offering puja to Lord Ganapathi at Madikeri Fort premises. Later, the Kodavas will take out a traditional walk till the venue.
The inauguration of the tournament will be held at 10 am in which Union Law Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara, MP Pratap Simha, Kodava Hockey Academy Founder President Pandanda M. Kutappa, Hockey Coorg President Pykera Kalaiah will be the chief guests. Shatheyanda Family Pattedara B. Monappa will preside.
Kodagu In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundurao, PWD Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, MLAs Appachu Ranjan and K.G. Bopaiah, MLC Sunil Subramani, City Municipal Council President Srimati Bangera, former Ministers T. John, M.C. Nanaiah, former international hockey player Arjun Devaiah, Olympian Dr. Anjaparavanda Subbaiah, Keshava Prasad Muliya and others will be present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Saturday – April 09th, 2016
