Media Release
Doha, Dec 7: As India is fast emerging as a Badminton power house, Tulukoota Qatar took an initiative to organise a badminton tournament for Karnataka based ICC affiliated organizations with twin objective of promoting the game as well as to provide and spot talents among Karnataka expatriate community in the state of Qatar which will also be an opportunity and inspiration to the younger generation.
The organizations participated with complete enthusiasm and sportsman spirit. The turnout of the players from the children below 13 years up to the super senior category was overwhelming. The huge turnout kept the organisers on their feet to make sure that the tournament is played fairly and enjoyed by all. The tournament was irresistible as Karnataka Sangha Qatar (KSQ), Karnataka Muslim Cultural Association (KMCA), Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC), South Kanara Muslim Welfare Association (SKMWA), Bunts Qatar including host Tulu Koota Qatar came out to participate in most of the categories.
The event was graced by the chief guest Milan Arun, president of Indian Cultural Center (ICC), guests of honour Gopal Kharvi and Ravi Shetty, patron of Tulukoota Qatar and managing director of tournament sponsor ATS Group. Another guest of honour Rocky Fernandez, director of DPS Modern Indian School could not attend. Guest of honour Gopal Kharvi is a guinness as well as limca award winner and also the winner of many state awards for his outstanding achievement in swimming such as Karnataka state Rajyotsava, Yuva kreeda, Sandesha and so on. Karnataka association presidents, past presidents, committee members and members too participated in huge numbers to make the event memorable and successful. Tulukoota president and managing director of the main sponsor golden trading and decoration presided over the whole event.
The scheduled event was started at 7 am with a brief inauguration ceremony. Compere of the ceremony Lakshmi Anil Shetty, cultural secretary made the opening remark. President Asmath Ali in his brief address welcomed all the gathering. Patron Ravi Shetty in his address mentioned that as the sports unites people; this tournament too brought all the members of various associations together and is an opportunity to strengthen their mutual bonding. Sports secretary Roopesh Kumar conducted the oath taking. Soon, Tulukoota president along with the presidents of all associations and the compering team of Tulukkota Qatar, formally inaugurated the event by releasing bunch of balloons.
Professional referees conducted the matches for different categories in all the four courts of DMIS Indoor court. Children, ladies and men took part with enormous enthusiasm and were cheered by their respective members. As the event progressed, the semifinals and final matches were of high quality badminton with intense competition as the tournament had few exceptional talents who had represented universities as well as state back in India. Hence, it was a treat to watch for the badminton lovers as the tournament culminated with the best match of the event in the category of below 35 years for men.
The results of the tournament are as listed below:
Team Champion ship Trophy Winner - Bunts Qatar
Team Champion ship Trophy Runner up - Tulukoota Qatar
The compere for the closing ceremony was Girish Puranik who has been introduced by Chaitali Suhas Shetty, media and environment coordinator. President Asmath Ali, vice president Kiran Anand and sports coordinator Roopesh Kumar escorted the guests to the dais. All the guests and associations presidents were greeted by presenting floral bouquets.
President Asmath Ali in his welcome address also thanked all those who had worked hard and supported to make the event a grand success. The compere presented in brief the introduction, outstanding achievements and details of various awards received by Gopal Karvi. The guests on the dais along felicitated Kharvi and presented him a memento as a token of appreciation. Gopal Kharvi inspired the gathering with his life story and humble beginning. He also thanked Tulukoota for organizing the event and extending the invitation to him by which he got his first opportunity to visit a foreign country.
Ravi Shetty mentioned that apart from promoting the game of badminton, another objective of the tournament was to bring the people of Karnataka together without any barriers. Chief guest Milan Arun in her address congratulated Tulukoota for organizing such an event by bringing all the Karnataka based associations together under one roof and also lauded the team work of Tulukoota behind the success of every event. Vice-president Kiran Anand conducted the prize distribution. Sports secretary Roopesh Kumar delivered the vote of thanks.