By P.T. Bopanna
The Kodava family hockey festival on April 27 at Madikeri in Kodagu (Coorg) district in Karnataka resembled a convention of the Congress party.
Hosted by the Muddanda family, political speeches by a galaxy of ministers and legislators, took precedence over the game. Finally, the rain god came to the rescue of the packed crowds who were tired of listening to the politicos.
The finals of the match between Mandepanda and Chendanda families which was supposed to start around 11 a.m., started around 2 in the afternoon.
A few minutes after the game started, the match had to be abandoned due to the downpour.
Much to the resentment of the crowds, Mandepanda family which was leading by a solitary goal were declared winners by the organisers.
Since the organisers had messed up by starting the match late, they could have ruled both the teams playing the finals as joint winners.
The 25th edition of the Kodava family hockey organised by the Muddanda family will go down in memory as the one where politicians brought a bad name to the hockey festival. The Kodava family hockey had entered the Guinness World Record last year for being the largest field hockey tournament.
Photo: Karnataka home minister, G. Parameshwara being welcomed by Virajpet MLA Ponnanna A.S.
