KMCA beats MCC to lift 3rd edition of Bengaluru Cup

Doha: The Karnataka Muslim Cultural Association (KMCA), an organisation affiliated to Indian Cultural Centre, under the aegis of the Embassy of India, State of Qatar, had organised the third edition of the Bengaluru Cup, a volleyball tournament for the community organisation of Karnataka origin here in Doha, Qatar at the Old Ideal Indian School ground’s volleyball court.

The tournament was spread over two days, with day one being the opening ceremony and the fixtures and day two saw the semifinals, finals and the closing ceremony.

Chief Guest and Head of Premises for the opening ceremony Seenu Pillai, Vice President, Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), was led to the stage by KMCA President Niyaz Ahmed. The ceremony was opened with a recitation from the Qur’an by Janab Ahmed Saeed Assadi and the event was compered by Saquib Raza Khan. Niyaz Ahmed delivered the welcome speech. Seenu Pillai addressed the gathering as his last event representing ICC and announced the nomination of KMCA President Janab Niyaz Ahmed Saheb to the Management Committee by the Indian Ambassador to Qatar.

Sports Secretary Sayed Ashfaque lined up the six teams namely;

Karnataka Muslim Cultural Association (KMCA)
Karnataka Sangha Qatar (KSQ)
Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC)
South Kanara Muslim Welfare Association (SKMWA)
Social Forum – Karnataka Chapter (SFQ)
Tulu Koota Qatar (TKQ)

The fixtures were drawn by Anil Boloor and Vote of Thanks was proposed by the KMCA Joint Secretary Mohammed Zia ul-Haq. The tournament was declared open by the guests with a release of helium balloons. Badr Al Samaa Medical Centre provided the First Aid and medical counter for the two-day event.

Day One:

Court 1 witnessed the matches-KMCA v/s MCC (KMCA Won), KMCA v/s KSQ (KMCA won) and MCC v/s KSQ (MCC won)

Court 2 witnessed the matches-TKQ vs SKMWA (TKQ won), SKMWA v/s SFQ (SFQ won) and TKQ v/s SFQ (SFQ won)

Day Two: The two semi-final matches started at 3 pm.

Court 1 – MCC v/s SFQ:

This match was fiercely fought with neck and neck point scoring in 3 sets of action packed fight in which team MCC came out successful and moved to the finals.

Court 2 – KMCA v/s TKQ: A high energy match between the two teams with 2 sets of closely fought smashes and lifts culminated in KMCA winning and progressing towards the finals.

The break time between the semi-final matches and the final was well utilised to hold the formal stage programme for Qir’at, a recitation from the Holy Qur’an by Master Fakhir Fayaz Ahmed. KMCA General Secretary Janab Saquib Raza Khan requested the KMCA President to escort the chief guest for the evening, Milaan Arun, the newly-elected president of Indian Cultural Centre to the Stage. Past president Janab Ahmed Saeed Assadi escorted the heads of the Karnataka-based ICC-affiliated organisations to the stage. The dignitaries on the stage were presented with a welcome gift by the KMCA Executive Committee members. Janab Niyaz Ahmed welcomed the guests and the gathering. He also announced his acceptance of the nomination to the ICC Management Committee by the Indian Ambassador and his stepping down from the Executive Committee of KMCA. He also announced the nomination of Janab Abdulla Monu Moidin as the acting president of KMCA.

The chief guest was felicitated by KMCA Cultural Secretary Aisha Rafique along with members of the ladies wing. Milaan Arun addressed the audience and was delighted to have been invited to the event as the Bengaluru Cup was her first official event after taking up the office at ICC. She attributed her election victory as an encouragement to all women who aspire to accomplish greater things in life, primarily in community service. She said she was honoured to be in the presence of all the Karnataka-based affiliated organisations’ heads on a single platform. She expressed her gratitude to all these organisations for coming together for a common goal of having a Kannadiga in the helm of affairs at ICC. She expressed her heartfelt delight in being involved with KMCA and how the latter had become a torch bearer for ICC affiliated organisations.

The KMCA executive committee then surprised their Outgoing Leader Janab Niyaz Ahmed Saheb, with a felicitation for his exemplary leadership during his three-and-a half-year tenure as the president of KMCA taking KMCA to the pinnacle of its success through various community outreach programmes and engagements. His vision to bring recognition to KMCA as a premier community organisation was accomplished over and over during his tenure, clearly building an established platform for KMCA to flourish and sustain. Janab Niyaz was presented with an exclusive Qatari traditional fragrances set by the Ladies Wing and a traditional Qatari sword was also offered to him by the Executive Committee along with veteran KMCA members and patrons along with the dignitaries on the stage.

The stage function was concluded with a Vote of Thanks by KMCA Sports Secretary Syed Ashfaque. He expressed his heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the sponsors and supporters of KMCA namely, the event title sponsor of the third Bengaluru Cup -Pallonji Qatar.

The main sponsors were ALM, JADARA, New Design Company, Alutec & STS Group. The support sponsors were GIBCO, EUROPARTS, Qatar Design Consortium, Golden Trading & Decoration.

The KMCA Executive Committee expressed their humble thanks to the various community leaders who graced the occasion and enjoyed the games. Namely, Ravi Shetty and Ashmath Ali (TKQ), Madhu and Venkat Rao (KSQ), Navneeth Shetty and Ram Chandra Shetty (Bunts Qatar), Mohammed Sheriff (SKMWA), Prakash Noronha and Ronald Saldanha (MCC), Nazeer Pasha (Social Forum), other well-wishers and patrons Ibrahim Beary, Rafique Ahmed Hussain, Abdulla Khatri, Syed Abdul Hye, Mumtaz Hussain, Abdul Majeed Hydros, Deepak Shetty, Seetharama Shetty, media representatives Alex Castelino, Savious Crasta, the referees, linesmen, volunteers, Anil Boloor for his support in conducting the tournament and Badr Al Samaa Medical Centre for their support.

The finals was played between KMCA and MCC. A two set game saw fierce fighting for points and fantastic smashes and rallies. The match was won by KMCA and was crowned the Champion of third Bengaluru Cup. Both the teams were presented with individual player medals and cash prizes, followed by trophies for the best smasher – Wahid (KMCA), best lifter – Sarfaraz (KMCA) and best all-rounder – Wahid (KMCA).

The Late Prakash Chandra Ajila Fair Play Award was won by Team Tulukoota for their conduct during the tournament as judged by the referees.

The runners-up trophy went to MCC and winners trophy to KMCA. The event concluded with a photo session of the teams and celebrations. KMCA President Niyaz Ahmed and the Executive Committee congratulated the champions and all the teams for their sporting spirit. The event was well attended by a sizable crowd and it was delightful to have large participation from women and children.