Countdown to Kodava Family Hockey Festival

(Kayapanda Shashi Somaiah)

Madikeri, Mar. 17: The countdown has begun for the family hockey festival, which has been recognized in the Guinness Book of Records, including the World Book of Records, among Kodava families.

The 26th annual Kodava Family Hockey Festival is being organized by the Chenanda family in Napoklu in Nalnad district. This is the sixth festival in the history of family hockey in Napoklu, and this is the district with the most hockey fans, and the hockey festival is starting. The Kalianda Cup Hockey Festival was held in Napoklu in 2003, the Biddatanda Cup in 2017, and the Kulletira Cup in 2018. (The festival was suspended from 2019 to 22 due to some reason) Later in 2023, the Appachettolanda family restarted the hockey festival by organizing the festival in Napoklu. After this, in 2024, the Kundyolada family also organized the 24th annual festival in Napoklu, and on this occasion, family hockey entered the Guinness Book of Records. In 2025, the Muddanda Cup was held in Madikeri, and now preparations are underway for the 6th hockey festival in Napoklu through the Chenanda Cup again.

Chenanda preparations... Starting from April 5

The Chenanda family is working hard for the success of the 26th annual hockey festival. The concept of One Goal... One Plant, along with the speciality of a hockey tournament for primary and high school teams in the district, has now begun preparations at Napoklu, the central venue of the festival. Hockey Namme will begin on April 5. Currently, with the ground being leveled, gallery construction is underway to accommodate about 30,000 spectators to watch the tournament. The gallery construction work is in full swing. Experts from Calicut have been contracted for this work. 

Registration of 240 teams

240 families have already registered their names to participate in the hockey festival. Registration has been allowed at 34 places in the district, and accurate information is not available as registration is also being done online. More than 30 women's teams have also come forward for the women's hockey tournament. The organizers have informed that the registration period has been extended till March 20. The ties will be prepared after the 23rd.

Four grounds in total

The General Thimmaiah Stadium in Napoklu Cheriyaparambu is the main ground. This time the tournament will be held in a total of four grounds, including two other grounds below it, and another ground built by the Kundyola family at Senior College.

As part of the Chenanda Cup, a training camp, a balopat camp, a marathon competition, a 4x100 family relay competition, a tand-bend camp and other activities will be organized for the students who have already been selected during the festival. Olympians from the district will be specially invited to the festival. It is almost certain that the people's representatives, officials, the Chief Minister of the state and other dignitaries, and the Union Sports Minister will participate this time.

There is full cooperation from the technical committee including the Kodava Hockey Academy, Hockey Coorg, Hockey Karnataka, and the Referees' Association, and several rounds of meetings have already been held. Festival committee working president Deena Changappa and office bearers said that a cultural procession, exhibition matches and cultural programs will be held on the opening day.

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