Kodava Speaking Community Cricket Cup in the Lap of Kaniya Samaj

Madikeri, May 18: The 21-nation Sports Festival-2026 organized by the Kodava Speaking Community Association has opened with a grand opening. The Kaniya Samaj team won the cricket tournament, while the Airi Samaj team was satisfied with the runner-up award. For the past three days, the Lalu Muddaya PU College ground in Murnadu has been hosting the match between 21 Kodava speaking communities. Batting first, the Kaniya Samaj team, which entered the final round, scored 70 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the stipulated 6 overs. Chasing the target, the Airi Samaj team lost by 30 runs for the loss of 9 wickets and scored 40 runs. Mahesh Devaiah of Kaniya Samaj scored 33 runs off 16 balls, while Tarun Nanjappa scored 28 runs off 9 balls to lead the team to victory.

Sonam Bopaiah of Kaniya Samaj was named Man of the Series, Tarun Nanjappa of Kaniya Samaj was named Man of the Match, Yogesh of Kudia Samaj was named Best Player, Tattanda Jaswant of Airi Samaj was named Best Bowler, and Kudia Samaj was named Best Team.

Semi-final

In the semi-final match, the Kaniya Samaj team scored 47 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the stipulated 6 overs. The Kudia Samaj team lost 6 wickets for the loss of 39 runs in the stipulated 6 overs.

In another semi-final match, the Airi Samaj team, which batted first, scored 47 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the stipulated 6 overs, while the Akhil Kodagu Panika Samaj team lost 6 wickets and scored 39 runs in 6 overs. The commentary was given by Kuparekuttada Sagar, Changachada Rashmi, and Poonachira Suman Manoj.

Marathon started: Yesterday at 7 am, the marathon was started by the president of the Kodava Speaking Communities Association, Dr. Subhash Nanaiah, who gave the good wishes. In the men's category, Dixit Devaiah (Q), Pudiyokkada Puneeth (D), Tekkadammanda Ponnu (T), Pavveriyanda Roopa (Q), Jalejpale Bomma Kiran (D), and Balapanda Yashika (T) got the place.

Tug of War Finals: In the final stage of tug of war, the Heggade community team defeated the Iri community team and won first place in the men's category. In the women's tug of war, the Iri community team defeated the Malay community team and won first place.

Efforts to provide land

Chief Minister's Legal Advisor and MLA A.S. Ponnanna assured that efforts will be made at the government level to fulfill the demand for land for the 21 Kodava speaking communities who have been leading their lives with the Kodava language, culture, tradition and customs.

He spoke after launching the final stage of the Kalinamme cricket tournament organized by the Kodava speaking communities' association. All the ethnic groups should be united. If they are united, they can achieve success, he said, adding that efforts will be made to provide basic facilities to the speaking communities in the coming days.

Another guest, Karnataka Sports Authority Vice President C.S. Arun Machayya, inaugurated the final competition of the tug-of-war and said that sports play an important role in uniting the community. He said that during his tenure, he will try to provide as much funding as possible from the government for the development of sports and the community sports meet.

Madikeri MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda said that it is a matter of pride that the Kodava-speaking community in Kodagu, the birthplace of sports, is preserving and developing its culture on its own basis. If the Kodava-speaking community in his constituency identifies a vacant land and brings it to their attention, he will try to give it to the community meet. The two MLAs assured that they will deal with the issue of land together at the government level.

Coffee grower, social worker Kudanda Rajendra Ayyamma, Akhil Kodava Samaj President Paradanda Subramani, Virajpet Kodava Samaj Secretary Maletira Srinivas were present on the stage and spoke. The meet's president Dr. Mechira Subhash Nanaiah presided over the event. Those who had served and achieved in the 21 Kodava speaking communities were honored and felicitated during the event. At the beginning, Achchapanda Trisha Kawerappa prayed and the treasurer of the event, Padinhiranda Prabhukumar, welcomed the gathering. Honorary Secretary Kudanda Saba Subramani and Pawdanda Daisy Roshan presented the program.

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