Chenanda family hosts Kodava hockey festival, launches sapling plantation drive

Madikeri: The Chenanda family is hosting the 26th edition of Kodava Family Hockey Festival, which has set a world record. As part of the sports event, a sapling plantation drive was also launched, which aims to plant 2,500 saplings.Speaking to reporters, Chenanda Hockey Namme Secretary Madhu Madaiah said that the Kodava Family Hockey Namme, started by the late Pandanda Kuttappa in 1997, has made various achievements, including entering the Guinness and World Book of Records. This year, the tournament will be held at General KS Thimmaiah Ground in Napoklu from April 5 to May 2, 2026. The organisers informed that the hockey festival is likely to cost Rs 2.5 crore.Apart from the tournament, the family aims to plant and maintain 2,500 trees, Madhu Madaiah said. The planting drive will begin on Aug 31. In the first phase, Virajpet MLA and chief minister's legal advisor AS Ponnanna will launch the drive at Neeliyaat Mand in Kokeri village.In the second phase, MLC MP Suja Kushalappa will plant a sapling, while Mysuru MP Yaduveer Wadiyar will participate in the third phase. There will be a tree planting programme at Korakot Aiyappa Devarakkad in T Shettigeri on Sept 13. A planting programme has also been organised on the banks of River Lakshmana Theertha under the sponsorship of the forest department. Madhu further said that a sapling would be planted for every goal scored in the tournament. This is the first time Chenanda family logo and flag have been designed and registered as a ‘trademark', said spokesperson Suresh Nanaiah.Kambani Karumbaiah, Thammi Thammaiah, and Sachin Aiyappa were present.

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