Madikeri: The 26th edition of Kodava family hockey began on Sunday in Napoklu near Madikeri. This year’s festival is hosted by Chenanda family.A procession was hosted by Chenanda family as part of the hockey festival and was accompanied by various cultural teams. Flag hoisting and celebratory inauguration ceremony was conducted in the presence of hockey fans. Kodava Hockey Academy president Pandanda Bopanna launched the 26th Kodava Family Hockey Festival Chenanda Hockey Namme-2026 by pushing a silver ball with a silver hockey stick.Earlier, Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna inaugurated the programme. He said such a festival has been held for the last 25 years and those who have been supporting it need to be remembered.“There has been a complaint for a long time that there is no good sports complex in Kodagu district, which has produced about 18 Olympians. Currently, a well-equipped sports complex is being built in V Badaga with Central govt funds and state govt at a total cost of Rs 40 crore. The work is underway, and CM Siddaramaiah will officially launch the work,” he said.MLC Mandepanda P Suja Kushalappa said that Kodagu has given the country many excellent hockey players. Kodava hockey has been helpful to us in developing hockey in the district. We should remember the vision of Pandanda Kuttappa, who started the festival, he said.Karnataka Sports Authority vice-president Cheppudira Arun Machaiah, Chenanda Hockey Namme president Karumbaiah, Madikeri MLA Manthar Gowda, Kodava Hockey Academy executive president Olympian Cheppudira Poonacha, Hockey Coorg president Palachanda Lavakumar, Chenanda Cup executive president Deena Chengappa, secretary CS Madaiah, treasurer CP Achaiah and others were present.An exhibition match was played on Sunday.
