Media Release
Doha, Jan 31: Galhinna Cricket Club (GCC) emerged as champions to win the 2nd edition of ‘Kundapura Trophy’ defeating Alliance Qatar team in the final, organized by Kundapura Taluk Cricketers (KTC) at Old Ideal School grounds on January 26.
KTC, a non-profitable sports body representing cricketers and cricket lovers from Kundapura taluk in Karnataka, India, was formed last year to promote the game of cricket in Qatar. In its 2nd year, 10 teams took part in the four-day long floodlit cricket tournament on league cum knockout basis.
K Jayaprakash Hegde, former Karnataka minister, former MP and MLA, graced the closing ceremony as guest of honor and Azim Abbas, chairman and head of ISC as chief guest. Earlier, the guests were brought into the ground in a colorful and yet traditional procession, involving children waving both Qatari and Indian flags, Melam drums and duff songs.
Azim Abbas appreciated the initiative of KTC to promote cricket in Qatar. Jayaprakash Hegde, while thanking KTC for the honor and inviting him to Qatar, also stressed on the need of applying unity, brotherhood and harmony that cricket teaches, in day today lives and congratulated both winners and runners-up for their splendid performance through out the tournament.
Vice-president Mubarak Kodi welcomed the gathering, Deepak Shetty, organizing committee member and past president of KSQ, introduced the guest of honor, Inthikhaab Alam, general secretary, KTC, thanked everyone who were involved in making the tournament a huge success, Shehzaad, sports secretary managed the logistics and Tufail Matheen conducted the ceremony.
Imran Navunda of Qatar Freelance Group, and Akbar Gangolli, former president of KTC were also present along with, all Karnataka based organisations’ presidents H K Madhu, KSQ, Asmath Ali, president of Tulukoota and coordinator of cricket tournament, Abdulla Monu, president of KMCA, Prakash Noronha, president of MCC, Abdul Majeed, president of SKMWA, and Ravi Shetty, patron of Tulukoota.
Put into bat in the finals, Alliance scored 56 runs in 6 overs. Chasing the target, mainly due to some explosive shots from Husni towards the end, GCC reached the target in 5.1 overs.
Husni of GCC was declared the ‘Man of the Match’, Mudasir of Yorker, as ‘Best Bowler of the Tournament’, Sajeev of Yorker as ‘Best Batsman of the Tournament’ and Sifan of GCC as the ‘Man of the Series’.
Qatar Freelance group was the event sponsor, and Akbar Gangolli of NAMKO Builders, Mubarak of Office Solutions, Asmath Ali of Golden Trading and Decoration and Deepak Shetty were the main sponsors. The support sponsors were ATS, M Pallonji, QDC, Space Trading, Al Muftah Contracting, Al Zaman Exchange Europarts, Intermodal Services and Multiline. Venkat Rao, Kiran Anand and Alkaline were also the sponsors for the event.