Shodhan Prasad
Pics: Sonu Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, Jan 24: Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, like every year, hosted the 'Koosamma Shambu Shetty Memorial (KSSM) Throwball and Volleyball Tournament 2016' at Abu Dhabi Indian School grounds here on Friday January 22.
The day-long sports event, which was witnessed by a large number of sports enthusiasts as well as families, was inaugurated by Dr B R Shetty and Dr Chandrakumari B R Shetty in the company of Vijay Mathu, Sudhir Kumar Shetty, S B Shetty, Leo Rodrigues, Lavina Rodrigues, Prema Uday Shankar Shetty, Dolphy Vaz and several other dignitaries. The tournament was declared open by releasing balloons in the air.
Sarvotham Shetty, president of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha welcomed the guests on the dias and briefed about the tournament. He conducted the inaugural function in a humorous style.
The inaugural match was played between Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha and CCF Fujairah.
In the throwball for man and women, eight teams viz Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, K C O Abu Dhabi, Bunts Dubai, Mangalore Konkans, Mogaveers UAE, Coastal Friends UAE, Konkans Dubai, and CCF - Fujairah, participated. Volleyball teams which fought out for the title were Indian Spikers - A, Indian Spikers - B, Smart Plus, Karavali Boys, and Saifah Rikon Friends - Dubai.
Naveen Salian, Satish Shetty, Cynthia, Deepthi and Anand (volleyball) functioned as referees.
The finals were played between Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha and Bunts Dubai in Ladies Throwball event. In the segment meant for mens throwball, Bunts Dubai and Coastal Friends UAE fought for the title. Indian Spikers A and Saifah Recon were pitted against each other in the finals of volleyball for men, and this match provided full entertainment to the enthusiastic crowd, which watched with bated breath as the keenly fought match progressed to nail biting finish.
Results:
KSSM Volleyball - Men
Winners - Saifah Recon
Runner-up - Indian Spikers
Best striker - Pawan of Indian Spikers
Best defender - Sajan of Saifah Recon
Allrounder - Siraj of Saifah Recon
KSSM Throwball - Men
Winners - Bunts Dubai
1st runner-up - Coastal Friends UAE
2nd runner-up - Mangalore Konkans
Best striker - Allan of Coastal Friends
Best defender - Ashlene of Coastal Friends
Allrounder - Ranjit Shetty of Bunts Dubai
KSSM Throwaball - Women
Winners - Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, Abu Dhabi
1st runner-up - Bunts Dubai
2nd runner-up - Mangalore Konkans
Best striker - Smitha Chowta
Best defender - Shankila Bhandary
All rounder - Neethu Shetty
Prizes were distributed by Dr B R Shetty and Dr Chandrakumari B R Shetty, along with other guests on the dais.
Committee members of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha worked really hard for the success of this annual tournament. In his address, Dr B R Shetty thanked all the members of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha committee, volunteers, and the teams from all over UAE which took part in the tournament. He specially appreciated and thanked CCF Fujairah team for coming all the way from Fujairah to take part in this tournament.
For the first time, volleyball was included in the KSSM tournament this year, and Dr B R Shetty had special words of appreciation towards Vinod Shetty for organizing and coordinating this tournament.
The tournament, which was professionally organized by Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha under the able leadership of Sarvotham Shetty, proved to be highly successful and entertaining.