Former Indian Kabaddi team captain Dr Honnappa Gowda receives Dubai Kreeda Rathna Award
Abu Dhabi: On the auspicious occasion of Mysuru Dasara and Kannada Rajyotsava, and in support of Dubai Fitness Challenge launched by the Crown Prince of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai-based Kannada association Hemmeya UAE Kannadigaru grandly celebrated Dubai Sports Festival 2021 at Kent College in Nad Al Shiba, Dubai.
The sports festival’s closing ceremony was held on 05th November 2021 with the major highlight being the Dubai Kreeda Ratna Award which was bestowed upon Arjuna Awardee Dr Honnappa C Gowda, former Captain of the Indian national and Karnataka state Kabaddi team, who is also the coach of the Delhi Kabaddi team. Dr Gowda thanked HUK and the whole Kannadigas diaspora for honouring him in one of his best recent recognitions and expressed that he wished he had these many Kannadigas while he was being honoured with the Arjuna Award too. During his speech, he urged parents to encourage children to eat healthily and engage in physically active sports and activities rather than mobile games.
During the prize distribution ceremony, a specially designed medal and certificate & Trophies were given to the winners of sports, arts, literature, talent and cultural events. Furthermore, Kannada students based in UAE who scored the highest marks in SSLC and PUC exams, as well as winners of Sheik Hamdan and Dr Sultan Awards, were honoured with the Student Excellence Award.
Sri Mohammed Mustafa, the owner of EMSquare Engineering Consultancy was also honoured with the “Apath Bhandava” Award for his social service and commitment to supporting Kannada communities in India and around the world in all possible ways during dire situations such as COVID and natural calamities.
Main guests of the event included Sri Praveen Shetty, President of Karnataka NRI Forum and Owner of Fortune Group of Hotels, Sri Shekhar Reddy, owner of Gulf Stream Contracting, Dr Rashmi Nandakishore, owner of Riva Laser Medical and Institute, Sri Raghavendra Manbol, Head of PAN World Education Solution, owner of The Fresh Online Sri Hidayat Addoor, Sri Naveed Magundi, vocalist and businessman, Dubai Advocate Khaleel Kasargodu, a UAE KMCC legal adviser, and Bollywood filmmaker MS Khan.
The program was chaired by Smt Mamatha Mysore, President of Hemmeya UAE Kannadigaru, The event was hosted by HUK subcommittee member and Kannada community’s beloved MC Sri Naveen Bharadwaj Bengaluru and Smt Asha Shankar Kundapura. The event started with a Bharatanatyam performance by Smt Iswarya Bharadwaj Dubai, the first Indian artist to perform a solo classical dance at Expo 2020, followed by the official opening speech which was delivered by Sri Vishnumurthy Mysuru, Head of the HUK Literature committee. Dr Savita Mohan Mysuru, Head of HUK Doctors Group, delivered the vote of thanks to all the participants and volunteers of cricket, football, volleyball, badminton, Athletics, carrom board, chess, ludo, Rangoli, Dasara puppet, Kannada quiz, songs, poetry and essay competition as well as all the artists who performed during the closing ceremony for making the Dubai Dasara Sports Festival a grand success.
HUK President Smt Mamatha expressed her gratitude to HUK core committee members such as Former President Sri Sudeep Davanagere, Chief Secretary Sri Senthil Bengaluru, Chief Convener Sri Rafiq Ali Kodagu, Business Forum Head Sri Shankar Belagavi, Sri Mohiuddin Hubli, Sri Vishnumurthy; women’s unit coordinators Smt Mamatha Sharjah, Smt Hadiya Mandya, Smt Pallavi Davanagere, Smt Anitha Bengaluru and Dr Savita Mohan Mysuru.
