Steevan Colaco
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Pics: Prem, Mummy Digitals, Udyavar
Udupi, May 3: Friends Bengaluru won the three-day national-level tennis ball cricket DNI Trophy hosted by Udyavar Friends Circle, Udyavar to mark its silver jubilee recently. The floodlit tournament began on April 29 and the final was held between Friends Bengaluru and Royal Aces Kerala on May 1 at Udyavar gram panchayat grounds.
Oscar Fernandes, member of Rajya Sabha inaugurated the tournament by lighting the lamp. "Youth are the backbone and assets of the country. We boast of having the largest youth population in the world. Youth easily tend to lose their focus. Hence we need to take necessary steps to build a stronger nation. I have personally funded a sum of Rs 20 lac for building this ground. The amount was handed over to late Manjunath Udyavar and he has built this ground beautifully. Whenever I visit here I remember my late friend."
Rajendra Kumar, president, SCDCC Bank, Abdul Jaleel Sahib, president, Halima Sabju auditorium, M A Gafoor, secretary, KPCC Sudhir Hegde, businessman, Nagesh Kumar, Udyavar, Riyaz Palli, vice-president, Udyavar gram panchayat. Girish Kumar, president, Billava Mahajana Sangha, Diwaker Bolje, member, gram panchayat, Prathapchandra Shetty, MLC Udupi district, Wilson Rodrigues, member, zilla panchayat. Shirva, Alex Lewis, president, Udyavar Friends Circle, Ronald Manohar Karkada, president and Sharath Kumar, founder presidents Udyavar Friends Circle were present on the dais.
Steevan Colaco compered the programme and welcomed the guests.
A total of 28 teams from various states including Karnataka participated in the tournament. The matches were of 8 overs. Nasik Band, DJ and a band from Mysuru enthralled the gathered spectators.
The closing ceremony was presided over by Vinay Kumar Sorake, minister for urban development and district in-charge. Ivan D’Souza, MLC, Mangaluru district, Mohiuddin Bava, MLA, Mangaluru north constituency, Yashpal Suvarna, president, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Fisheries Federation, Dinesh Puthran, businessman, Glen Dais, Mandavi Builders and Promoters, Udupi, S N Hegde, businessman, Ranjith Hegde, businessman, Suresh Shetty Gurme, businessman, Ronald Manohar Karkada, honorary president, Udyavar Friends Circle, Sharath Kumar, founder president, Udyavar Friends Circle, Alex Lewis, president, Udyavar Friends and Mahesh Suvarna, Udyavar Friends Circle were present on the dais.
Vinay Kumar Sorake lauded the organizers for hosting the tournament. He also announced a fund of Rs 5 lac on his part towards the development of the playground.
Ivan D’Souza also appreciated the work of Udyavar Friends Circle and promised his contribution of Rs 5 lac, towards the development of the ground. In addition he promised to fund the opening of the new cricket academy at Udyavar and all activities related to cricket in the coming days.
Teams Royal Aces Kerala and Friends Bengaluru made it to the finals. Royal Aces won the toss and chose to field first. The team was successful in restricting their counterparts to 50 runs for 6 wickets in 8 overs. In reply, Royal Aces were all out for 37 and Friends Bengaluru won the DNI trophy by 13 runs.
The winners, Friends Bengaluru took home a sum of Rs 3.5 lac as well as the trophy. The runners-up, Royal Aces won an amount of Rs 2 lac and the runners-up trophy.
Individual prizes:
Man of the match (finals): Prasad, Friends Bengaluru.
Best batsman of the tournament: Giliyar Naga, Friends Bengaluru.
Best bowler of the tournament: Sanil, Royal Aces Kerala
Best wicket keeper: Kannan, Royal Aces Kerala
Best fielder: Raghvendra, A K Friends Udupi.
Man of the series: Sagar Bhandary, Friends Bengaluru.
The awards were presented by the dignitaries. Vinay Udyavara, Zakhir Hussain, Fazal Honnalla were the commentators of the tournament. Abid Ali compered and welcomed the gathering.