YIFA Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament Inaugurated

Somwarpet, May 7: The YIFA Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament between invited prestigious teams, organized for the first time by the Young Indian Farmers Association at the synthetic turf ground in Somwarpet, was formally inaugurated today.

Former President of the Indian Hockey Federation R.K. Shetty inaugurated the league-style tournament between prestigious state-level teams, which is being organized in this area after 18 years, and wished all the best for the tournament.

Former Sports Minister M.P. Appachchu Ranjan, who participated in the inaugural program of the ceremony, said that the contribution of Kodagu hockey players to the hockey field of the country is immense. He said that it is commendable that the Young Indian Farmers Association has organized a hockey tournament on an international scale this time.

The Somwarpet ground has been built as an international level ground. I am satisfied that the demands of the hockey players of this area have been met. Many players from Somwarpet have contributed to the Indian hockey field. It is a matter of pride for everyone that players like Govinda, Ganesh, Arjun Halappa, who played on this ground, have taken responsibility as the captains of the Indian hockey team. The youth should develop an interest in the field of sports. Children should be made interested in sports from a young age. In this regard, he opined that the work of YIFA organization to encourage hockey by organizing a state-level hockey tournament is commendable.

Young Indian Farmers Association President Srinidhi Lingappa, who presided over the ceremony, said that YIFA organization was formed for social service work and the organization did a lot of social work during the 2018 floods and the subsequent Covid. He said that this is the first time that a state-level tournament has been organized to encourage hockey in Kodagu.

This is a league-type tournament, and the final match will be held on the 10th at 3 pm. The team that emerges as the champion in the tournament will be given Rs. 2 lakh cash and an attractive trophy, the team that comes in second place will be given Rs. 1 lakh cash and a trophy, and the team that comes in third place will be given Rs. 50 thousand cash and a trophy. Along with this, awards will also be distributed in the individual category, he said.

On the stage were Assistant Director of the Youth Services and Sports Department V.T. Vismaya Chakravarthy, KudigeSports School Coach Venkatesh, Hockey Coorg President Lav, Secretary Chetan, senior hockey players Lakshmi Kanth, Halappa, Dolphins Sports Club President B.R. Mahesh, and Secretary of the Blue Star Hockey Association Arun Kumar.

Teams from Canara Bank, Karnataka State Police, AGORC, South Western Railways, Customs, DYES, Southern Command and the host YIFA participated in the event, with players who have represented India at the international level and are currently representing the country being the main attraction. Along with this, players from Somwarpet, who are in the Junior India Camp, are also on the field, and the encouragement of local hockey fans is evident.

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