Pics: Sunil Crasto
Daijiworld Media Network-Doha
Doha, Nov 6: Champions are made up of a different mettle. Becoming champion is just one step but remaining champion, holding on to the championship dearly year-by-year requires extraordinary skills, commitment and passion. The Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC) Ladies Throwball team is one such team which knows not just to become champion but remain champion. Comprising of talented and spirited players, led by a skillful and shrewd captain, coached by a resolute coach and supported by ever-cheering and passionate fans, MCC Ladies throwball team is surely the toast of the town for long now. Their champions’ quality and mettle was in complete display as they won the 15th Annual Ladies Open Throwball Tournament organized by Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC) for the third time in a row. They had answer for every challenge thrown up by their equally passionate and skilled opponents and at the end their experience, skills and passion was the driving force that helped them create history and bag the coveted trophy once again.
The 15th Annual Ladies Open Throwball Tournament was held on November 3 and 4 at the Old Indian School grounds near here.
The annual tourney, one of the most popular events among the Mangalorean community in Qatar was inaugurated on Thursday November 3 evening with an welcome note from the MCC president Prakash Noronha. MCC sports secretary Cyril D'souza introduced the five teams of the tournament, that is, Al-Khor Community led by Kannika Shetty, Konkan Stars led by Wilma D'Souza, Karnataka Sangha Qatar led by Shailaja Ranjith, Tulu Koota Qatar led by Vijaya Shetty and the host MCC team led by Indira Kunder.
Joint Sports secretary Naveen D'souza conducted the oath-taking ceremony along with the match officials, team captains and managers on behalf of their teams. This was followed by the round-robin league matches, at the end of which Tulu Koota Qatar and Mangalore Cricket club Qualified for the finals.
Tulu Koota Qatar and MCC in a final is always a mouth-watering contest. Both the teams have won the championship multiple times and are made up of experienced as well as young players who give their best on field. Apart from this, both the teams have a great fan-following which results in high-decibel sporting extravaganza, each time, these teams lock horns with each other, either in the qualifying rounds, semi-finals or finals. Such is the beauty and quality of the great rivalry between Tulu Koota Qatar and MCC throwballs teams.
It was again such intense, high-on-spirits and passion finals wherein two of the best captains of the tournament Vijaya Shetty of TKQ and Indira Kunder of MCC led their teams. It was indeed an edge-of-the-seat affair where the pendulum swung in favour of one team to the other constantly. While MCC won the first set comfortably 25-13, TKQ came roaring bagging the second set in a thrilling fashion with a score of 27-25. But MCC ladies held on to their nerves till the very end wining the third set 15-11 to retain their Champions Trophy, though both teams were equally good and matched each other in every department and tested all players strength with long rallies in midst of the cheering and excited crowd.
Winning captain Indira Kunder needs a special mention. Eversince she took up the reigns of MCC team 3 seasons ago, MCC has won championship every season. She leads from the front with her super talent and tactful maneuvers both at the net as well as from the backline. Make no mistake. She is a fierce competitor on court. But also has a cool head above her shoulders and her ability to remain ice-cool when passion fumes and infuse the same calmness in her teammates is indeed commendable. And she has an equally talented lieutenant in Angela who has made it a habit to bag ‘Woman-of-the-tournament’, best smasher etc awards every year. She is one of the best players in the history of the tournament and has her own fans who root for her, every time she is on the court.
Special attraction of the evening were the cheer girls Vanessa Fernandes, Lara D'souza, Nikita Rego, Navitha Rego and Viola Monteiro who cheered the teams and the crowd with their beautiful dances to some good numbers choreographed by Jyothi D'Souza and Prabha Rego.
Before the finals, in the official stage programme MCC President Prakash Noronha, and Sports secretary Cyril D'souza escorted the Chief guest Girish Kumar, President of Indian Cultural Association (ICC), main sponsor Alfred and Rita Sequeira of Gulf International Enterprises, Prestige Sponsor Franky Quadros, Proprietor of Al Amer Garage and Transport, Co-Sponsor Alan Currie, Finance Manager of SNC Lavalin, to the stage. They were greeted with flower bouquets by our tiny tots. March past was conducted wherein all the teams joined the grand march to the thunderous applaud of the audience.
President Prakash Noronha then delivered the presidential message welcoming the guests, teams and the gathering with a message to uphold the sportsmanship values. Chief Guest Girish Kumar in his address note thanked MCC for conducting this tournament for the past 15 years and congratulated all the teams for their participation in this sports event and wished the best for the finalist teams.
All the teams were honored by the Chief Guest Girish Kumar with a memento for their participation, President then honored the Main and Prestige sponsors while the Co-Sponsors were honoredbywith a memento.
Main Sponsor Alfred & Rita Sequeira of Gulf international Enterprises were specially honored for being the Patron & Main Sponsor continuously for all 15 editions of MCC Annual Open Ladies Throwball Tournament honored with a shawl & memento and a fruit basket.
Joint Sports Secretary Naveen D'Souza then proposed the vote of thanks. The participating team captains along with guests released balloons as a symbol of team spirit and peace. The team captains then introduced their team players to the guests and Chief Guest Girish Kumar and Main Sponsor Rita Sequeira tossed the ball to the captains declaring the final match open.
After the thrilling finals, the prize distribution ceremony was presided over by main sponsor Alfred and Rita Sequeira, Prestige Sponsor Franky Quadros and the President Prakash Noronha. Cyril D'souza honored the match referee Lynel Jaison Lobo for officiating all matches of the tournament with a memento. Richard D'souza presented the best smasher award to Angela Dias of MCC Team, KSQ President H.K Madhu presentedbest all rounder award to Swetha Shetty, TKQ President Ravi Shetty presented the best catcher to Suma Mahesh of MCC. Best Fair play team was awarded to Konkan Star Team.
Rita Sequeira presented the medals, certificates and trophy to Runners–up Tulu Koota team and Prakash Noronha presented the Winners MCC team with medals and certificates.
Alfred Sequeira presented the Champions trophy to the reigning champions MCC team.
MCC Team :
Indira Kunder - Captain, Angela Antony, Mable Pereira, Maria D'Souza, Winnie Saldanha, Sunitha Tellis, Suma Mahesh, ,Aarti Fernandes, Siji Sunny, Treesa Goveas, Sunita D'Souza, Ashik Linda Lobo, Delita D'Souza, Sharon Lobo and Team Manager Riana Pinto.Team Coach Alexis Castelino.
It is noteworthy that Indira Kunder was the captain of the team in all the three consecutive victories.
Tulukoota Team:
Vijaya Shetty - Captain, Shobha Shetty, Akshaya Shetty, Bharathi Shetty, Vani Prakash Rao, Jyothi Shetty, Shilpa Shetty, Reshma Sunil, Padmashree Shetty, Chandrakala Shetty, Praveena Shetty, Swetha Shetty, Aruna Shetty, Preethi Shetty and Team Coach : Prakash Rao.
The stage programme was well conducted by the young and energetic Wilma D'souza.
The sports officials were John Britto and Vincent Mendonca as the rotation officers, Ryan Renjar, Arun D’Souza, Vijay D’Souza and Errol as the linesmen. The commentators’ desk was managed by Mishal Lovely Lobo,Mahesh Prabhu,Abdul Salam, while the scoreboard was managed by Jessy Mendonca & Dephny Lobo and the registration desk was handled by Vanessa Saldanha.
The organizers thanked the team of volunteers in a special way for all the hard work put in for the success of the tournament. MCC also thanked the chief guest and other esteemed guests, the sponsors, the participating teams and their officials and all those who have helped in making this mega sporting event a grand success.
MCC thanks its sponsors Main Sponsor - Alfred & Rita Sequeira - Gulf international Enterprises, Prestige Sponsor: Francis Quadros - Al Amer Garage & Transportand Jerald D'Mello - J & J Infrastructure. Co-Sponsors:Alan Currie - SNC Lavalin, Wilfred Fernandes - Radisson Blu and Doha Bank.
Other Sponsors: Advanced Technical service (Ravi Shetty) ,Euro Parts (Abdulla Monu), Integral Food Services (William Aranha), Golden trading & Decoration (Asmath Ali), Wing International Trading and Contracting, Canara Jewellers, Bombay Silk Centre, Akshaya Jewellers, Oxy Print house, Integral Uniform, Intermodel Service Company, DHL Qatar, Dandy Ice cream.