By Riana Pinto, Doha/Qatar
Daijiworld Media Network - Doha
Doha, Oct 26: The Tulukoota, Qatar, Ladies throw ball team won the 7th Annual MCC Ladies Open Throw ball Tournament, organized by Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC), Qatar for the third time in seven years defeating the reigning champions Konkan Stars by 10-15 , 15-8, 15-4 in a well fought three sets match.
To reach the final they also had to see off the current Second Runners-up MCC ladies team. The four day event on two consecutive weekends of 16th, 17th, 23rd and 24th October 2008 at the Indian Club grounds, Al Wakhra, was well fought by seven participating teams, namely, Tulu Koota (TK), Lanka Lions(LL), Qatar Tamizar Sangam (QTS), Konkan Stars (KS), Indian Club (IC), Al Khor United (AKU) and the host team (MCC) and was witnessed by more than a thousand people over the days.
The final day of the tournament, 24th October 2008, began the match between MCC and QTS for the third place in which MCC was victorious.
The opening ceremony of the tournament began with an introduction by Reena Castelino, the Cultural Secretary of the club. Cyril D’Souza, Sports Secretary then welcomed the gathering.
A grand march, led by Riana Pinto, Joint Secretary representing the organizers and involving the participating teams was then conducted by Amitha D’Souza and Florent D’Souza with pomp and glory, with a child representing the individual team leading their respective teams.
Lucy Fernandes (fondly known as Aunty Lucy), the initiator of throwball tournaments in Qatar about nine years ago, spoke on the occasion lauding MCC for conducting the tournament for the past seven years in a very professional and impeccable way and encouraged to keep up the good work
Alwyn D’Souza, MCC President, in his address, briefed the gathering about the club activities and thanked all those who helped in organizing this mega event. The crowd acknowledged the success of the tournament with their applause. He also thanked the participating teams and wished the finalists the very best in the finals.
Addressing the gathering of more than 500 people, including the sponsors of the tournament, many dignitaries of the Mangalorean and other communities, K M Varghese, President, Indian Cultural Centre, Presidents and officials of various expatriate clubs and representatives of various schools in Qatar were present. Chief Guest of the evening Sanjiv Kohli, Minister at the Indian Embassy, Doha appreciated the very high standard maintained by the organizers and the opportunity given by the club to the ladies in Qatar to maintain their fitness.
Ruma Kohli joined the team captains and team Managers of the 7 participating teams in releasing 7 doves and 7 balloons bearing the names of each participating team, to symbolize the opening of the final day of the tournament. The teams were then introduced to the Chief Guest and Kohli.
Roy D’Souza, Joint Sports Secretary proposed the vote of thanks.
The final match between Tulukoota and the Konkan Stars, which followed was declared open by the tossing of the ball by Kohli who was joined by Rita Sequeira, representatives of MCC and the captains of all teams.
The other highlight of the evening was the IPL style cheer leading team consisting of Venal Rhea Castelino, Rupal Aroza, Sana Britto, Merlin D’Souza, Cybil D’Souza and Vanessa Saldanha who were wonderfully trained by Bessie D’Souza and supported by Denzil Britto.
During the prize distribution ceremony, Shahida Fatima, Physical Trainer at Pakistan Education Centre (PEC), Doha was honoured for her services as the official Referee for the past five MCC Throwball Tournaments. She was awarded a plaque and a gift voucher as a token of appreciation.
The Tulukoota, represented by its captain Shobha Shetty was awarded the Rolling Champions Trophy by Alfred Sequeira, the main sponsor of the tournament. The individual players also received individual trophies, certificates and some fabulous prizes from the sponsors. The first and second runners up also were awarded trophies and prizes. The third runners up and all the other participating teams were all awarded ‘Participant’ certificates and gifts. The best player of the Tournament introduced for the first time this year by the Sports Committee along with Ashok Kumar Bhoja was awarded to Akshaya Shetty of Tulukoota for her wonderful game in the finals. John Britto of the Sports Committee conducted the prize distribution ceremony.
Alfred and Rita Sequeira of Gulf International Enterprises were the main sponsors of the event for the seventh year in a row. Ganesh Srinivasan of Gulf Incon (dealers of VIP luggage), Qatar Kentz (Alan Currie), Ghanem Al Thani Holdings - Ramada (Wilfred Fernandes), Mannai Air Travels (Farook Sardar) were the co-sponsors. Other support sponsors were Jumbo Electronics, Canara Jewellers, Indian Club (H P Singh Bhullar), Dandy, Mc Donalds, Family Food Centre, Doha Petrol Centre, Nadec Juices, Rayyan Waters, Goltens, Rasgas and Qatar Airways.
Florent D’Souza was simply superb, as he has been for the past four years, as the official commentator of the tournament with his witty and easy flowing comments on every bit of the action on and off the court and was ably supported by Amitha D’Souza, Joyce Alvares, Uday Rosario, Clara Castelino and Adeline Rodrigues.
Joseph G. D’Souza served as an additional referee for the match. Wilfred Crasto, Stephen Andrade and Vincent Castelino were the Rotation Officers while Errol D’Cunha, Prashanth D’Silva, Philip Rodrigues, Fredrick D’Souza, Lawrence Pereira were the linespersons of MCC. Glylon Rodrigues was the DJ of the evening who rocked the audience with a smooth flow of jumpy/bumpy numbers.