Riyadh: Karavali Bulls win Karavali Kabaddi championship-2018

Riyadh: Karavali Welfare Association Riyadh Saudi Arabia conducted tis maiden national level Kabaddi championship at Riyadh on January 19 at H.F.Stadium, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

KWAR president Santhosh Shetty welcomed the guests and sponsors as well as all the Kabaddi enthusiasts gathered in the stadium. Generous contributions from KWARs well-wishers’ Universal Spare parts Abdul Latif, Taj Restaurant’s Kevin Nazareth, Hi Chef restaurants Shameer Rahiman, Sallap Shetty Udupi, Bhaskar K C. Jagadish Shetty, Prasanna Rao, Yathiraj Malpe, Nelson Dsouza, Mahesh Hegde, Rajesh Kumar, Hamid Nazir, Usman Gulvadi, Irfan Abubaker, Ramesh Shetty, Iqbal Tanzeem, Prakash Shetty, Hussain Shaafi, Dilip Kumar, G.K. Sheik, Santhosh Shetty Ardi, were able to make this Championship A DREAM COME TRUE. All the Sponsors were felicitated with flower bouquet.  Vice president Muzaffar Ali,  General Secretary Nelson Dsouza, Treasurer Mahesh Hegde, Former President Rajesh Kumar, Former President of MASA Dammam Narendra Shetty & Gopal Shetty were at the dais.

A total number of 9 teams Participated in this Premium event, who came from as far as Jeddah, Jubail, Alhasa and Dammam. The following teams participated in the championship: 1. Karavali Bulls 2. Sultan Attackers 3. Karavali Super Riders 4. Jubail Friends 5. Bhatkal Community Jeddah 6. Classic Friends Puttur 7. Universal Riyadh Indians 8. ISF AlHasa 9. Arab Traders.

The tourney began at 4 p.m., after the event was inaugurated by Abu Abdullah, the owner of H.F. Sports Stadium along with our Major sponsors and after the players were given oath of spirit of sportsmanship by KWARS former President Rajesh Kumar. The game was wide open and it was a surprise treat for the huge numbers of Kabaddi loving spectators gathered in the stadium, irrespective of a Chilly Fridayevening. After the League Matches among the 9 teams with 3 groups, 6 teams were qualified and divided in to 2 groups and 2 each from these groups were qualified to play semifinals of the mega Kabaddi championship. Karavali Bulls, Bhatkal Community Jeddah, ISF Alhasa and Classic Friends Puttur Qualified and reached the semi-finals, with mesmerizing Kabaddi play which enthralled the Huge crowd who were at their toes.  It was a history day for Karavali Welfare Association Riyadh, the organization with a “Unity is Our Strength” slogan stepping in to their 10th Glorious Years in service of needy Indians.

The first semi-final payed between Bhatkal community Jeddah and Classic Friends Puttur saw some wonderful see-saw battle between both the teams but All-round play by Bhatkal Community Team won the place in first ever FINALS of Karavali Kabaddi Championship 2018.  The second Semifinal played between the Multi-Talented Karavali Bulls and ISF Alhasa team.  ISF Alhasa fought valiantly to surrender to the much stronger Karavali bulls who reached the Finals to play for championship match against Bhatkal Community Jeddah. 

The final match was a match between two top Kabaddi teams of Saudi Arabia. As expected the huge crowd did not miss the thrilling entertainment these two top teams provided to the gathered who were there to watch the final at the wee hours of midnight defying a cold and breezy weather to cheer up their respective teams. After a few early hiccups, Star studded Karavali Bulls Lead by captain cool Suraj Shetty deservingly won the championship-2018 with final score of 27-10.  The crowd and supporters of Karavali Bulls were ecstatic and the history was created in this first ever national level Kabaddi championship, well organized by Karavali Welfare Association Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The scorers were Murali, Jaykar Poojary and Ashwat Rai did a commendable job. Abbas Mani, Dilip Kumar, Bhaskar Salian and Siraj ably supported Chief Referee Mr. Sandip Shetty to conduct all the matches in a free and fair manner.

This championship wouldn’t have been successful without the special efforts from Our executive members, and KWAR members specially Rajesh Kumar Prasanna Rao Mahesh Hegde,  Irfan Abubaker, Nelson Dsouza, Anoop Shetty Subhash Shetty, Jagannath Kotian, Gopinath, Bhaskar Salian , Murali, Suraj Shetty, Umesh Shetty, Arjun Murthy, Sudhir Shetty  Salman Nour, Yathiraj Malpe, Hussain Shafi,  Varun Shetty, Sunil Hegde, Bhaskar P. M. Shrikant Hejamadi, Nazeer Ahmad, G.k.Sheikh, Iqbal Tanzeem, Jayakar Poojary, Ashwath Rai, Dilip Kumar and Nitin Rai Kukkuvalli.

KARAVALI BULLS were represented by Captain Suraj Shetty. Arjun Murthy, Mohd Fakruddin, Sudhir Shetty, Rashid Badsha, Mohd Farooq, Varun Shetty, Mohd Razak, Raja and Manager Prasanna Rao. Kabaddi Fans are reminded that KARAVALI BULLS were the Reigning CHAMPIONS of KABADDI Tournament conducted by NRI Sports Federation at Jeddah in March last year.

The following were the winners of Kabaddi Championship 2018:

1.    The Champions         : KARAVALI BULLS RIYADH

2.    Runners Up               : BHATKAL COMMUNITY JEDDAH

3.    Best Disciplined Team    : JUBAIL FRIENDS

4.    Best Rider                : MOHD.FAKRUDDIN, KARAVALI BULLS

5.    Best Catcher           : RASHID BADSHA, KARAVALI BULLS

6.    Man of the Tournament: MOHD. HAMAD SIDDIQA, BHATKAL COMMUNITY JEDDAH

All the winners were presented with Medals and Champions and Runners up were Presented with Trophies and Cash prizes. Referee Sandeep Shetty who came specially from Dammam to supervise the Kabaddi matches was felicitated by KWAR President Santhosh Shetty. Mr. Santhosh Shetty Thanked all Executive committee members, members of KWAR, Sponsors, and all guests as well as All the Kabaddi Fans gathered in the stadium. He specially thanked national Kabaddi player Sukesh Hegde who sent his best wishes to KWAR management for the success of Kabaddi championship. KWAR President urged everyone to join hands with KWAR cause.   event ended with a recitation of the National Anthem.