Madikeri: Former minister MP Appachu Ranjan urged Kodagu landowners not to sell agricultural land, stating that sports and agriculture are deeply embedded in the district's cultural heritage. He made these remarks on Tuesday after releasing the schedule for the YIFA Hockey Champions Trophy, organized by the Young Indian Farmers Association (YIFA), to be held from May 7 to 10 at the synthetic turf ground in Somwarpet.
Support for Hockey Infrastructure
Ranjan recalled that during his tenure as sports minister, funds were allocated for astroturf hockey grounds in Somwarpet, Kudige, and Ponnampet to support Kodagu's hockey players. He expressed satisfaction that well-equipped grounds have been developed in all three locations, enabling the hosting of state-level tournaments. He noted that this development is encouraging for the local sporting community.
YIFA's Social Initiatives
YIFA president Srinidhi Lingappa explained that the association was formed by like-minded individuals who initially came together for relief work during the Kodagu floods. Their efforts later expanded into broader social service activities. Lingappa highlighted that this tournament marks the first state-level hockey event in Kodagu in 25 years, a significant milestone for the region.
Tournament Details
Participating teams include Canara Bank, Karnataka State Police, AGORC, South Western Railways, Customs, DYES, Southern Command, and the host team YIFA. The winning team will receive Rs 2 lakh and a trophy, the runners-up Rs 1 lakh and a trophy, and the third-place team Rs 50,000 and a trophy. The event was attended by YIFA vice-president Harshit Shivappa, secretary Sajan Mandanna, treasurer Mohit Thimmaiah, and office-bearers and members of the women's unit.
