Countdown begins for 26th annual Kodava Family Hockey

Madikeri: The countdown has begun for the 26th annual Kodava Family Hockey Namme, to be hosted by the Chenanda family at Napoklu from April 5.Recognised in the Guinness Book of Records and the World Book of Records, the Kodava family hockey festival returns to Napoklu for the sixth time. Napoklu has hosted earlier editions, including the Kaliyanda Cup in 2003, Biddatanda Cup in 2017, Kulletira Cup in 2018, Appachettolanda Cup in 2023, and Kundyolada Cup in 2024. The 2025 Muddanda Cup was held in Madikeri.Preparations are in full swing at Napoklu as ground levelling work is on, and a large gallery is being built to seat around 30,000 spectators. Experts from Calicut have been engaged for the gallery construction. The Chenanda family has introduced the theme ‘One Goal, One Plant' and will also organise a special hockey tournament for primary and high school teams in the district. So far, 240 Kodava families have registered for the tournament. Registration is being accepted at 34 centres across the district and online, with the deadline extended to March 20.More than 30 women's teams have also registered. Tournament fixtures will be prepared after March 23. The main venue will be General Thimayya Stadium at Cheriyaparambu, Napoklu. Matches will be held across four grounds in total, organisers said.Festival activities will include a training camp, cultural dance balopat camp, marathon, 4x100 family relay, and coaching for selected students. Olympians from the district are expected to be invited.Organisers said the Kodava Hockey Academy, Hockey Coorg, Hockey Karnataka, and the Referees' Association are extending technical support.On the opening day, a cultural procession, exhibition match, and cultural programmes will be held, said festival committee working president Deenna Chengappa.