Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Jun 26: Childhood memories were relived all over again as the first-ever Lagori Tulunadu Cup got off to a briliant start with Bigg Boss Kannada winner Pratham inaugurating the event at Karavali Utsav Grounds here on Sunday June 25.
The Lagori Tulunadu Cup 2017 was jointly organised by Bhandary Builders and Pathway Enterprises.
After day-long action that saw teams put in their best to outdo their opponents, it was Swastik Lagori Friends Punjalkatte who emerged champions of the maiden Tulunadu Cup, defeating Merlapadavu Breakers who clinched the runner-up trophy. The winning team took home a cash prize of Rs 30,000 while the runner-up team received Rs 15,000, besides trophies.
Addressing the gathering, Pratham said, "This is my third visit to Mangaluru. Earlier I had come on a tour. It is my previlige to take part in this tournament. I thank the people of Mangaluru for casting votes for me and helping me win Bigg Boss reality show. I wish all the best to the teams in the tournament."
Mayor Kavita Sanil said, "It is a good initiative taken by Pathway Enterprises and Bhandary Builders to refresh our childhood memories. We can see a large number of participants taking part in this tournament. It would be good to see this traditional game played at a national level. Next year let there be Lagori tournament organised for girls too, so we can see how good girls are in this traditional game."
The mayor also took a shot at lagori, much to the delight of the crowd.
Minister for Food and civil supplies U T Khader distributed the awards and said, "Pathway enterprises and Bhandary Builders set the right platform to popularise the traditional game of lagori by organizing this tournament here at Karavali Utsav Ground."
The first ever Lagori tournament 'Lagori Tulunadu Cup 2017' consisted 20 teams from Mangaluru, Udupi and Kasargod and was divided in to four groups having five teams each. Team with the highest points from each group, qualified as the final four for the semi-finals.
Lagori World Cup
Amateur Lagori Federation has come out with a decision to organise the second edition of Lagori World Cup from May 21, 2018. Santosh Gurav, who has played a pivotal role in popularising the sport in 32 countries across the world showed keen interest towards lagori. Conducting a research on Lagori during the year 2004, he started the Lagori Foundation in the year 2009. So far, six international and seven national tournaments have been organized under the aegis of Lagori Foundation.
Chief whip of Mangaluru City Corporation Shashidhar Hegde, proprietor of Bhandary Builders Lakshmish Bhandary, BJP leader Badrinath Kamath, journalist Harish Rai, Amateur Lagori Federation of India president Sandeep Prahlad, owner of Pathway Enterprise Deepak Ganguli and others were present.
Twenty teams from Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Kasargod took part in the tournament. The teams were Swasthik Lagori Friends, Spirit Warriors Jara, Hanuman Logorians Bolar, Maruthi Friends, Shanmuka Sports Club, Ace Promoters and Developers, Friends Chitrapura, AK Friends, Barke Strikers, NSS Nirchal, Garuda Chokkadi, KVT Guys, Dream Killers, Beach Guys Iddya, Veeranjanaya Friends, Merlapadav Breakers, Dream Chasers, Team Daijiworld, Panchashree and Mahamaayi Friends.
Yakshagaana Artiste Patla Sathish Shetty, proprietor of Bhandary Builders Lakshmish Bhandary, PRO Venu Sharma and others were present.