The 16th edition of Kodava family hockey festival concluded with the Palanganda team winning the trophy against Kaliyanda team by 2-1. With this, the 23-day hockey fiesta came to an end, at Ammathi school grounds on Sunday.
By winning the match, Palanganda team has won the hockey festival for the third consecutive year. The runner up team — Kaliyanda had won the first hockey cup way back in 1997. Even last year, the same teams had entered the finals and the history has repeated with the defeat of Kaliyanda.
It was Prajwal Muthanna who scored two goals and helped Palanganda team to emerge victorious. He had scored first goal in 39th minute and second goal in the 45th minute.
However, the Kaliyanda team failed to convert its penalty corner to a goal. The team had received 11 penalty corners and was able to convert only one.
It was Kaliyanda Kiran who converted penalty corner to a goal.
The final match was flagged off by Hockey Utsav founder Pandanda Kuttappa by moving the ball in a silver hockey stick. Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah, MLC M C Nanaiah, Iychettira family head K Anil, Arameri Sri Shanthamallikarjuna Swamiji, journalist M A Ponnappa and others were present.
The winning Palanganda team won a cash of Rs 1.5 lakh along with the trophy. Palanganda Prajwal emerged as the best player of the match. Kaliyanda Kiran won the best man of the series for scoring highest goals. Mandepanda Sajan Acchaiah was declared as best upcoming player.
The best goal keeper award was won by Kandanda Bose Acchaiah, best defender by Machamada Gautham Ganapathy, best striker by Palanganda Prajwal, Palanganda Kalappa, best centre of player by Mandepanda Kripa and Kaliyanda Kiran.
Thithimada Prajwal Bopaiah won best youth player, Mandeda Girish Kaverappa won best senior player, Kokanda Krithika won best woman player and Ainanda Akash Poovanna won the best student player award on the occasion.
The Kodava hockey will be hosted by Madanda family in 2013. Kodava Hockey Academy president Pandanda Kuttappa handed over the flag to the family members.
Fact file
* Total number of teams—217
* Total matches—216
* Total goals—556
* Penalty corners—1586
* Of 26 penalty strokes, 21 were converted into goals