Media Release

Kuwait, Mar 2: Billava Sangha Kuwait (BSK) successfully conducted their 10^th season of cricket tournament ‘Billava Trophy’ on February 25 at TRC new ground, Riggae, Kuwait. Along with men’s cricket, first time BSK conducted cricket tournament for women and kids. 

The day-long sporting event commenced with the prayer and breaking of the coconut by advisor Raghu C Poojary.

President Amarnath Suvarna in his welcome speech conveyed his best wishes to the participating teams.

Under kids’ category two teams, shining stars and rising stars took part in the tournament. Both teams played very well and finally rising star beat shining star to win the trophy.

Following sportspersons won award under kids’ category:

Player of the Match: Nikilesh R Poojary – Rising Star

Best Batter: Master Tejas P Poojary – Shining Star

Best Bowler: Master Nish K Poojary – Rising Star 

Under women’s category two teams namely Billava Strikers and Warriors participated in the tournament. Both teams had intense competition and finally Billava Strikers emerged as the winner.

Following sportspersons won award under women’s category:

Player of 1^st Match: Sushmitha D Suvarna – Billava Strikers.

Player of 2^nd Match: Shwetha S Kotian – Billava Strikers.

Player of the Series: Sushmitha D Suvarna – Billava Strikers.

Best Batter of the Series: Mamta Sandeep – Warriors

Best Bowler of the Series: Pooja Poojary – Warriors

Best catch of the Series: Shwetha S. Kotian – Billava Strikers.

Under Men’s Category, the following eight teams participated in the tournament:

1. Billava Tigers Riggae - A
2. Billava Tigers - B
3. Abbasiya Cricketers
4. Khaitan Cricketers

5. Old is Gold

6. Billava Brothers

7. Tulunadu Cricketers

8. Karavali Cricketers 

After extreme competitions in the 12 rounds of league matches followed by two semifinals, Karavali Cricketers and Billava Tigers Riggae - A faced-off in the finals.

Finally, Billava Tigers Riggae - A clinched the trophy and Karavali Cricketers settled for runners up. 

Following sportspersons won ‘Man of the Match’ awards under men’s category:

1^st Match: Rajesh Ramdas Poojary – Billava Tigers Riggae - A

2^nd Match: Akshay – Karavali Cricketers

3^rd Match: Raviraj Kotian – Billava Tigers Riggae - A

4^th Match: Vijay Poojary – Karavali Cricketers

5^th Match: Vijay Poojary – Karavali Cricketers

6^th Match: Sachin Sundara Kotian – Abbasiya Cricketers

7^th Match: Ajay Kumar – Tulunadu Cricketers

8^th Match: Sankethraj Yadav Kunder – Billava Tigers - B

9^th Match: Mahesh – Khaitan Cricketers

10^th Match: Naveen Poojary – Tulunadu Cricketers

11^th Match: Shailesh Kotian – Billava Tigers - B

12^th Match: Ajay Kumar – Tulunadu Cricketers

Semi Final 1: Vijay Poojary – Karavali Cricketers

Semi Final 2: Sandesh Salian – Billava Tigers Riggae - A

Final Match: Rajesh Ramdas Poojary –Billava Tigers Riggae - A

Man of the Series:Vijay Poojary – Karavali Cricketers

Best Batter of the Series: Rajesh Ramdas Poojary –Billava Tigers Riggae - A

Best Bowler of the Series: Shailesh Kotian –Billava Tigers Riggae - B

All the teams exhibited great sportsman during the tournament and thoroughly entertained the spectators with fierce competitions.

The MC for the award ceremony, Mithun Vishwanath welcomed chief guest Salah Saud Ali Al Fajji, management committee and all the BSK members. Chief guest was welcomed with the bouquet of flower by president Amarnath Suvarna. 

Chief guest Salah Saud Ali Al Fajji, BSK president Amarnath Suvarna, vice president Suresh Kunder, sports secretary Anish Kotian and other BSK members presented the trophies and medals to the winning teams and the players.

President Amarnath Suvarna congratulated the winners and thanked all the teams for their participation. He offered his special thanks to the committee members for organizing the tournament flawlessly and all the BSK members for their support in making the event successful and memorable.

The trophies and medals for the men’s and women’s category were sponsored by Suvarna Traders, Mangaluru while for the kids section trophies and medals was sponsored by Manoj Kotian, ONGC, Mangaluru. Other sponsors for the event were by BSK members Santosh Kotian, Venugopal, Chethan Poojary, Anish Kotian, Prashanth Poojary, Amarnath Suvarna, Suresh Kunder, Chitrek Bangera, Pradeep Kotian, Raghu C Poojary and Manoj Kumar. First Aid was provided by Salmiya Clinic.

Kids team was coordinated by Amith Sanil while Sandesh Amin and Krishna S Poojary facilitated women’s team.

The matches were fairly umpired by Antony Vijay, Jagadish Kharvi, Charan Bhaskar Shetty and Dian Fernandes. The scores were efficiently monitored and recorded by Arsene Asker D’Souza, Royal and Tilak Mendon while live cricket score updating in mobile app was ably handled by technical team of Kapico Travels and Tours. BSK committee honored the sponsors, umpires and the scorekeepers. 

The best moments of the action-packed event were captured by Prashanth Ferraro. BSK served tasty lunch from Mughal Tandoori restaurant which was sponsored by committee advisor Raghu C Poojary. 

The event concluded with the vote of thanks by sports secretary Anish Kotian. An invitation was extended to all the BSK members to attend the ‘Family Get-Together’ on April 19.