The prestigious 12th Alamengada Cup hockey tourney between Kodava families will be held in between April 20 and May 18 at Ponnampet Junior College grounds, for which as many as 200 teams are expected.

Addressing a press meet here on Monday, the tourney committee president A A Ponnappa, coordinator A K Ravi, treasurer A P Vittal and media convener A P Ramesh said about Rs 30 lakh to Rs 35 lakh would be spent for the festival as a whole. A total of 160 families have already enrolled for the tourney. The registration date has been extended till March 28, they informed.

The winning team of ‘Alamengada Cup-2008’ will get cash prize, a silver ‘Todang’ and a trophy. The runners up will get a golden ‘Pommale’ and trophy. Third and fourth place winners will gey ‘Took Bolcha’ (Kanoor Alamengada Ayyappa’s brother Ponnu memorial) and ‘Kutti Bolcha’ respectively. Cheppudeera Bose Devaiah and Mukonda Raghu have announced attractive prises for the third and the fourth place winners, they explained.

Kanoor Alamegada Radha Poovaiah has announced a motor-bike worth Rs 45,000 to the ‘man of the tourney’ in memory of her husband late A M Poovaiah.

Police band from Mysore will be convened for the inaugural and ‘Akash Ganga’ a hair-raising air show will be organised for the valedictory, they informed.

More money is being spent for constructing the gallery, which is on progress. Entrepreneur Mallengada Dada Belyappa, MLC C S Arun Machaiah, Berera Shambhu Ayyanna, Kodava Hockey Academy President Pandanda Kuttappa, Zilla Panchayat member Aramana Ranjan Changappa will be the chief guests in the inaugural ceremony. Fire Pro Company Director Nambudumada Narendra, BVL Group’s Dr Ravichandra and Tata Coffee heads will take part in the valedictory, the office bearers added.