Media Release
Mangalore, Nov 19: The YUVA Badminton Tournament 2024 – In aid for Yi accessibility, organized by the Yi Mangaluru Chapter, was dedicated to supporting accessibility initiatives under the guidance of chapter chair M Athmika Amin and chapter co-chair CA Salome Lobo Pereira, along with Ashish Rai, convenor of the YUVA Badminton tournament. The event blended the spirit of competition with the cause of accessibility and inclusion. Held at the Golden Shuttle Academy, Kottara, this tournament supported the Yi Accessibility Initiative, which champions opportunities for differently abled individuals.
Inaugural ceremony
The day began with a vibrant inaugural ceremony. Chief guests Anand G Pai, president of KCCI and Bharath Group; Ajith Kamath, chairman of CII and Ajith Enterprises; and Shashir Shetty, chief growth officer at Niveus, addressed the gathering. They spoke about sportsmanship and applauded Yi Mangaluru Chapter’s Accessibility Initiative for its impactful vision and efforts.
M Athmika Amin emphasized the importance of inclusivity and shared insights into ongoing projects, such as sessions on disability etiquette in schools and colleges. Yi Mangaluru is collaborating with the Hotel Owners’ Association to implement Braille menus in restaurants and create ramps for better accessibility. Amin noted that the tournament supports the Yi Accessibility vertical, which has completed over 300 activities nationwide. Achievements include job fairs, accessibility audits, partnerships for Braille menus at Bengaluru International Airport and Radisson hotels, and over 100 disability etiquette sessions. Additionally, Yi Accessibility has provided 50 artificial limbs, positively impacting many lives.
The event also had CII past chair Gaurav Hegde, CII member Mohammed Hanif, past Yi Mangaluru chair Ashith Hegde, and Yi Mangaluru chapter members: Durgadas Shetty, Madhukar Kudva, Adeeth Kalbavi, Rishabh Shetty, and Jnanesh Salian in attendance.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by CA Salome Lobo Pereira, and was emceed by Durgadas Shetty.
Participation from colleges
Eight men’s teams and five women’s teams from esteemed institutions participated, including:
- Yenepoya Institute of Arts, Science, Commerce, and Management, Mangaluru
- Alva’s Institute of Engineering and Technology
- Swastika National Business School
- St Aloysius College, Mangaluru
- A J Institute of Management
- Canara Engineering College, Benjanapadavu
- SDM College of Business Management, Mangaluru
- Manjunath Pai Memorial Government First Grade College
Tournament highlights and results
The tournament had 25 matches in a league format, with men’s and women’s singles and doubles categories.
Men’s Finals
- Men’s Singles: Shashank (St Aloysius College) defeated Shivprada (Canara Engineering College) – 30-13 points. Winner: St Aloysius College.
- Men’s Doubles: Mohith and Newton (St Aloysius College) defeated Suprith and Bhavith (Canara Engineering College) – 30-20 points. Winners: St Aloysius College.
Women’s Finals
- 1st Singles: Poorva (Canara Engineering College) defeated Sanjushree (Alva’s) – 30-23 points. Winner: Canara Engineering College.
- 2nd Singles: Kruthika B R (Canara Engineering College) lost to Krupa (Alva’s) – 23-30 points. Winner: Alva’s Institute of Engineering and Technology.
- Doubles: Pavithra and Vaibhavi (Canara Engineering College) lost to Meghana and Annapurna (Alva’s) – 16-30 points. Winners: Alva’s Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Accessibility Awareness Program
The Accessibility Awareness Program featured talks by H Nagaraj Bhat, honorary secretary and trustee of Seva Bharathi (R), Mangaluru, and para-athlete and fitness consultant Chetan Jajani. Bhat discussed Seva Bharathi Trust’s efforts for differently abled individuals and urged youth to help bring meaningful change. Jajani shared personal stories emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and accessibility.
M Athmika Amin announced new accessibility-focused projects and encouraged student involvement. Three wheelchairs were donated to individuals aged 7, 9, and 26, students of Seva Bharathi Trust. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by CA Salome Lobo Pereira and was emceed by Shilpa Ghorpade.
Prize distribution and valedictory ceremony
The prize distribution and valedictory ceremony were presided over by past Yi Mangaluru chair Ashith Hegde and past CII chair Gaurav Hegde. Also present were M Athmika Amin, CA Salome Lobo Pereira, Ashish Rai, Jnanesh Salian of Golden Shuttle Academy, and head coach Anirudh Patwardhan, among others. The session ended with a vote of thanks by Ashish Rai and was emceed by Shilpa Ghorpade.
Sponsors
- Annual Sponsor: NorthernSky Properties
- Bronze Sponsors: Ajith Enterprises, Clay TechSystems, HATSIM, Kasharp Fitness, Maroor Group, Merger Beverages, Novigo Solutions, Prime Sports, School Book Company, SN Cryogenics Pvt Ltd, Turmerind Online.
- Contributors: Arkieva Technologies, CryoAid, Dune - Study Metro, INERGEIA, Infinitum Studio, Lakshmi Cryogenics Pvt Ltd, MS Pai and Co, Sunshine Solar Solutions, Suparna Shetty Events, WAI INC, CA Shivkumar, Yatharth, Golden Shuttle Academy, and GR Stones.
About Yi Mangaluru Chapter
Yi Mangaluru, led by chapter chair M Athmika Amin and co-chair CA Salome Lobo Pereira, engages youth to drive change in various sectors. Key stakeholders include:
- Membership: Chaired by Ashrika Amin and Aditya Pai, ensuring a strong member base.
- YUVA Thalir: Led by mentor Shohan Shetty, chair Durgadas Shetty, and co-chairs Gaana Bhat and Anushree Shetty, focusing on youth initiatives, including partnerships and policy discussions.
- Rural Initiative: Headed by Harsha Kamath, promoting rural development.
- Masoom: Aimed at child sexual abuse awareness, led by Aditi Bansal and co-chair Abhinav Bansal.
- Road Safety: Spearheaded by Aajeeth Kumar, promoting road safety through the Chota Cop initiative.
- Health and Accessibility: Chaired by Eshwar Shetty, with co-chairs Hari Sudan and Dr Megha Goukul.
- Climate Change: Led by Sharon D’Souza and Rishab Raj Shetty, promoting sustainability.
- Entrepreneurship and Learning: Chaired by Arjun D’Souza, with co-chair CA Kedarnath Shenoy.
- Innovation: Led by Madhukar Kudva and co-chair Adeeth Kalbavi, fostering knowledge-sharing sessions.
- Branding: Overseen by chair Sharan Shetty, co-chairs Aditya Prabhu, Ashmitha Satish, and Shreshtha Bhandary, focusing on strategic media outreach.
Mentorship is provided by past leaders, including Ashith Hegde and charter chairperson Dikshith Rai.