Dubai: The prestigious KSSM tournament, organized every year in memory of the late Koosamma Shambu Shetty, mother of Padmashree Dr B R Shetty, was held on Friday January 22 at Abu Dhabi Indian School ground. The event began at 9.30 am with a warm welcome accorded by Sarvotham Shetty, President, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha and main convener of this tournament. This was the 26th year or this tournament.
Sarvotham Shetty invited all the dignitaries to the dais, namely Dr.B R Shetty and Dr.Chandrakumar B R Shetty along with Vijay Mathu, President of UAE Exchange Sudhir Kumar Shetty, Managing Director of Arab Udupi Chain of Restaurants S B Shetty, KCO Abu Dhabi President Leo Rodrigues, Lavina Rodrigues, Managing Director of Heatshield Dubai Premanath Shetty, Prema Uday Shankar Shetty, Dolphy Vaz & and many other dignitaries.
He then accorded a grand welcome to all and conducted the inauguration ceremony in a humorous manner. Colourful balloons were released to mark the event open. The inaugural match was played between the ADKS and CCF Fujairah.
Bunts Dubai men’s team managed to beat Coastal Friends UAE in an electrifying thriller to take home the most prestigious Koosamma Shambu Shetty Memorial Trophy 2016. The ladies throw ball team of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha emerged winners at a closely fought finals defeating the Bunts Dubai team. In the first season of the volleyball tournament, Saifah Reacon beat Indian Spikers in a thriller and emerged winners. Konkans Dubai men’s and ladies throw ball teams beat KCO Abu Dhabi teams to become 2nd runners-up.
The teams that participated in the tournaments were Bunts Dubai, KCO Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, Mogaveers Dubai, Konkans Dubai, Mangalore Konkans, Canara Catholics Fujairah and Coastal Friends UAE. Indian Spikers – A, Indian Spikers – B, Smart Plus, Karavali Boys, Saifah Rikon Friends – Dubai were the teams participated in the volleyball tournament. Naveen Salian, Satish Shetty, Cynthia D Cunha, Deepthi Salian & Anand were the referees and officiated the matches in a professional way.
Final matches between ADKS v/s Bunts Dubai (Ladies Throwball), Bunts Dubai v/s Coastal Friends UAE (Gents Throwball) and Indian Spikers -A v/s Saifah Recon (Men’s volley ball) were nail biting finish and entertained the crowd to its fullest.
Individual prizes were awarded in all the categories. In the Volleyball tournament, Pawan of Indian Spikers was the Best Striker, Sajan of Saifah Recon was the Best Defender and Siraj of Saifah Recon was adjudged the All Rounder. Allan of Coastal Friends was the Best Striker, Ashley of Coastal Friends was the Best Defender, Ranjit Shetty of Bunts Dubai was awarded the All Rounder in the men’s Throwball were as Smitha Chowta of ADKS was presented the Best Striker, Shakila Bhandary ADKS was the Best defender, Neethu Shetty of Bunts Dubai was the All Rounder.
The special commentator of the day Vinod Shetty and Naveen Salian added thrill and glamour to the matches with his wonderful and humorous commentary.
In the concluding prize distribution ceremony, all the winners and runners-up were given trophies. Dr B R Shetty and Dr. Chandrakumari B R Shetty along with President of UAE Exchange Sudhir Kumar Shetty, Managing Director of Arab Udupi Chain of Restaurants S B Shetty, KCO Abu Dhabi Ex-President Michael DSilva and other dignitaries were present on the dais.
Dr. B. R. Shetty thanked each and every one for their whole-hearted participation in the games and for making it a memorable one. He also thanked Sarvotham Shetty and Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha for working hard and successfully organising the Koosamma Shambu Shetty Memorial Throwball and Volleyball Tournament. He has specially thanked CCF Fujairah team for coming all the way from Fujairah. Dr.B R Shetty specially thanked Vinod Shetty for organising and coordinating the event which is the first of its kind.
It was indeed a wonderful tournament organised by Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha under the leadership of Sarvotham Shetty.
