Madikeri :

Sadananda Gowda inaugurates 20th Hockey Utsav; procession, exhibition match held Union Minister for Law D V Sadananda Gowda inaugurated the 20th Hockey Utsav between Kodava families – Shantheyanda Cup Hockey – at the FMC College grounds in Madikeri on Sunday.

He said that the hockey tournament is being organised to bring together Kodava families under one roof. “At a time when values of love and trust are fast declining, the Hockey Utsav helps in bringing together the families,” he added.

MLA K G Bopaiah said that the state government too is supporting the Kodava Hockey Utsav.

Shantheyanda Ravi Kushalappa, Hockey Utsav Samithi president, said that around Rs 1 crore is being spent to organise the Utsav.

MLA Appachu Ranjan, MLC Sunil Subramani, Kodava Hockey Utsav Founder Pandanda Kuttanni Kuttappa, Hockey Coorg President Paikera Kalaiah, former Indian hockey goalkeeper A B Subbaiah, Olympian Arjun Devaiah and others were present.

A total of 299 teams are participating in the tournament.

Fourteen matches will be held daily. The final match will be held on May 8.

Procession Prior to the inauguration of the Utsav, the flags of the past 19 tournaments were exhibited on a motorbike.

After offering prayers at the Kote Ganapathy temple, the Shantheyanda family members took out a colourful procession to the venue, exhibiting Kodava culture and tradition.

In the exhibition match, the Karnataka Senior team beat the Karnataka Junior team, 5-1.

The Karnataka Senior’s Palanganda Machaiah scored two goals, Puliyanda Thimmanna, Vikrankantha and Vishwas scored one goal each.

In the Junior team, the one goal was hit by Bharath.

source: http://www.m.dailyhunt.in / DailyHunt.in / Home> English News> Deccan Herald> District / Madikeri – DHNS, April 11th, 2016