Kodagu Gowda families' cricket tournament from tomorrow

Preparations are in full swing for organising Kodagu Gowda families’ cricket tournament, at General Thimmaiah Stadium in Madikeri from April 21.

The tournament is organised jointly by Kodagu Gowda Yuva Vedike and Paikera family. It will commence on April 21, with a qualifying round till May 4. The quarter-final and semi-final will be held on May 6 and the final will be held on May 7.

Kodagu Gowda Yuva Vedike publicity committee president Kudekal Santhosh said that 180 families had taken part last year. This year, 210 families have registered for the tournament.

The organisers will also hold a free eye camp and diabetes screening camp on April 29. “A flood-lit kabaddi tournament will be organised on April 30, with women’s teams taking part – out of 32 teams registered, eight are women teams. Even a throwball tournament, for women too, will be held,” said Santhosh.

“A torchlight rally to mark the beginning of sporting events will be taken from Omakareshwara Temple to Guddemane Appayya Gowda statue and then to district stadium by the athletes, who have made their names in national and international competitions,” said sports committee president Baladi Manoj. He said that it was Kodagu Gowda Samskrithika Academy which started the cricket tournament 18 years ago. The youth wing has been shouldering the responsibility of the tournament for the last five years.

A sum of Rs 74 lakh would be spent on organising the tournament. The inauguration of the tournament will be attended by Adichunchanagiri Mutt seer Shambhunath Swami, Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.