Media Release
Doha, Dec 12: Karnataka Muslim Cultural Association (KMCA), an organization affiliated to Indian Cultural Centre under the aegis of the Embassy of India, State of Qatar, organized the 3rd edition of the Bengaluru Cup, a volleyball tournament for the community organization of Karnataka origin in Doha, Qatar at the Old Ideal Indian School ground.
The tournament was spread over two days, with day one being the opening ceremony and the fixtures. Day two saw the semi-finals, finals and the closing ceremony.
The chief guest for the opening ceremony Seenu Pillai, vice-president and head of premises, Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), was led to the stage by KMCA president Niyaz Ahmed. The ceremony began with the recitation from the Qur'an by Ahmed Saeed Assadi and the event was compered by Saquib Raza Khan. KMCA president Niyaz Ahmed, welcomed all the guests and the audience. The chief guest Seenu Pillai addressed the gathering as his last event representing ICC and announced the nomination of KMCA president Niyaz Ahmed Saheb to the management committee by the Indian Ambassador to Qatar.
Sports secretary Syed Ashfaque lined up the six teams namely:
Karnataka Muslim Cultural Association (KMCA)
Karnataka Sangha Qatar (KSQ)
Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC)
South Kanara Muslim Welfare Association (SKMWA)
Social Forum – Karnataka Chapter (SFQ)
Tulu Koota Qatar (TKQ)
The fixtures were drawn by Anil Boloor, the vote of thanks was proposed by KMCA joint secretary Mohammed Zia ul-Haq. The tournament was declared open by the guests with the release of helium balloons. Badr Al Samaa Medical Centre provided the first aid and medical counter for the two-day event.
Day one: Court 1 witnessed matches played between KMCA and MCC (KMCA won), KMCA and KSQ (KMCA won), and MCC and KSQ (MCC won)
Court 2 witnessed matches played between TKQ and SKMWA (TKQ won), SKMWA and SFQ (SFQ won), and TKQ and SFQ (SFQ won)
Day two: The two semi-final matches was played starting 3 pm. MCC vs SFQ match on court 1 was fiercely fought with neck-and-neck point scoring 3 sets amid action-packed camaraderie, in which team MCC came out successful and moved to the finals.
KMCA vs TKQ on court 2 was a high energy match with two sets of closely fought smashes and lifts culminating in KMCA winning and progressing towards the finals.
The break time between the semi-final matches and the final was utilized to hold the stage formal programme with Qir’at, recitation from the Qur’an by Fakhir Fayaz Ahmed. KMCA general secretary Saquib Raza Khan requested the KMCA president to escort the chief guest for the evening Milan Arun, the newly-elected president of Indian Cultural Centre to the stage, while past president Ahmed Saeed Assadi escorted the heads of the Karnataka based ICC affiliated organizations to the stage. The dignitaries on the stage were presented with a welcome gift by the KMCA executive committee members. KMCA president, Niyaz Ahmed welcomed the guests and the gathering. He also announced his acceptance of the nomination to the ICC management committee by the Indian Ambassador and his stepping down from the executive committee of KMCA. He also announced the nomination of Abdulla Monu Moidin as the acting president of KMCA.
The chief guest was felicitated by the KMCA cultural secretary Aisha Rafique along with members of the ladies wing. Milan Arun addressed the audience and said she was delighted to have been invited to the event as the Bengaluru Cup was her first official event engagement after taking up the office at ICC. She attributed her election victory as an encouragement to all women who aspire to accomplish greater things in life, primarily in community service. She said she was honored to be in the presence of all Karnataka-based affiliated organizations' heads on a single platform and added that her win was a victory of the support of all these organizations coming together for a common goal, to have a Kannadiga on the helm of affairs at ICC. She expressed her heartfelt delight in being involved with KMCA and on how KMCA has become a torch-bearer for ICC affiliate organizations.
The KMCA executive committee then surprised their outgoing leader Niyaz Ahmed with a felicitation for his exemplary leadership through the three-and-a-half years as the president of KMCA, during which KMCA reached the pinnacle of its success through various community outreach programmes and engagements. His vision to bring recognition to KMCA as a premier community organization was accomplished over and over during his tenure, clearly building an established platform for KMCA to flourish and sustain. Niyaz was presented with an exclusive Qatari traditional fragrances set by the ladies wing and a traditional Qatari sword was presented to him by the executive committee along with veteran KMCA members, patrons and the dignitaries on the stage.
The stage function concluded with vote of thanks by KMCA sports secretary Syed Ashfaque. He expressed his heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the sponsors and supporters of KMCA, especially Pallonji Qatar, the event title sponsor of the 3rd Bengaluru Cup.
The final was played between KMCA and MCC. The two-set game saw fierce fighting for points and fantastic smashes and rallies. The match was won by KMCA who were crowned the champions of 3rd Bengaluru Cup. Both the teams were presented with individual player medals and cash prizes, followed by trophies for the best smasher - Wahid (KMCA), best lifter - Sarfaraz (KMCA) and best all-rounder - Wahid (KMCA).
The Late Prakashchandra Ajila Fair Play Award was won by Team Tulu Koota for their conduct during the tournament as judged by the referees.
The runner-up trophy was presented to MCC and winners trophy to KMCA. The event concluded with a photo session of the teams and celebrations. KMCA president Niyaz Ahmed and the executive committee congratulated the champions and all the teams for their sporting spirit. The event was well attended with the presence of a sizable crowd and it was delightful to have large participation from women and children.
The main sponsors were ALM, Jadara, New Design Company, Alutec and STS Group. The support sponsors were Gibco, Europarts, Qatar Design Consortium, Golden Trading and Decoration.
The KMCA executive committee expressed its gratitude to the various community leaders who graced the occasion and enjoyed the games, namely, Ravi Shetty and Ashmath Ali (TKQ), Madhu and Venkat Rao (KSQ), Navneeth Shetty and Ram Chandra Shetty (Bunts Qatar), Mohammed Sheriff (SKMWA), Prakash Noronha and Ronald Saldanha (MCC), Nazeer Pasha (Social Forum), other well-wishers and Patrons, Ibrahim Beary, Rafique Ahmed Hussain, Abdulla Khatri, Syed Abdul Hye, Mumtaz Hussain, Abdul Majeed Hydros, Deepak Shetty, Seetharama Shetty, the media representatives, Alex Castelino and Savious Crasta, the professional referees, linesmen, volunteers and Anil Boloor for his support in conducting the tournament, and Badr Al Samaa Medical Centre for its support.