MCC makes a hat-trick win lifting Throwball Champions trophy
Doha: Champions are the ones who hold on to their nerves even when they are in hot waters and come out with flying colours despite having their backs against the wall most of the times. MCC ladies throw-ball team proved that they are the real champions as they remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and reigned supreme to retain the title for the consecutive third time at the 15th Annual Ladies Open Throwball Tournament organized by Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC) held on November 3 and 4 at the Old Indian School grounds.
The annual tourney, one of the most popular events among the Mangalorean community in Qatar was inaugurated on Thursday, November 3rd evening with a keynote address from the MCC president Prakash Noronha. MCC sports secretary Cyril D’souza introduced the five teams of the tournament, that is, Al-Khor Community led by Kannika Shetty, Konkan Stars led by Wilma D’Souza, Karnataka Sangha Qatar led by Shailaja Ranjith, Tulu Koota Qatar led by Vijaya Shetty and the host MCC team led by Indira Kunder. Joint Sports secretary Naveen D’souza conducted the oath-taking ceremony along with the match officials, team captains and managers on behalf of their teams. All team captains joined Sports Secretary, President and Referee and released the balloons into the air marking the opening ceremony of 15th Ladies Annual Tournament.
League matches were played in round robin format and the audience witnessed some thrilling and exciting nail biting finishing league matches and finally defending Champions MCC and Tulukoota teams reached the finals with a lot of cheering from their respective supporters .
Tulu Koota Qatar and MCC have been the finalists for the past 3 years and the final match is always a net to net nail biting contest. Both the teams have won the championship multiple times and are made up of experienced as well as young players who give their best on the field. Apart from this, both the teams have a great fan-following which results in the high-decibel sporting extravaganza, each time. It was again such intense, high-on-spirits and passion finals wherein two of the best captains of the tournament Vijaya Shetty of TKQ and Indira Kunder of MCC led their teams. It was indeed an edge-of-the-seat affair where the pendulum swung in favour of one team to the other constantly. While MCC won the first set comfortably 25-13, TKQ came roaring bagging the second set in a thrilling fashion with a score of 27-25. But MCC ladies held on to their nerves till the very end fighting from 0-5 down to win the third set 15-11 to retain their Champions Trophy, Both the teams were equally good and matched each other in every department and tested all players strength with long rallies in midst of the cheering and excited crowd.
Before the finals, a short stage programme was conducted. MCC President Prakash Noronha and Sports secretary Cyril D’souza escorted the Chief Guest of the evening Girish Kumar, President of Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), main sponsor Alfred and Rita Sequeira, Prestige Sponsor Francis Quadros, Co-Sponsor Alan Currie to the stage. They were greeted with flower bouquets by tiny tots. Ryan Renjar, Joint Secretary conducted the grand march past of all teams to the thunderous applause of the audience.
All the team captains were honoured by Chief Guest Girish Kumar and sponsors with a memento for their participation.
Vijaya Shetty of Tulukoota team was honoured in recognition of her participation in all 15 editions of Throwball tournament with a memento by Alfred Sequeira.
Chief Guest Girish Kumar then honoured the Sponsors. The Main Sponsor Mr. & Mrs Alfred Sequeira were given a special honour for their continued patronage as main sponsor for all the 15 editions of the tournament. with a shawl, memento and fruit basket.
Tulu Koota Qatar marks the event with its social activity like Environment Campaigns, where TKQ volunteers clean the ground with black garbage bags. The continue Environment campaign of TKQ was well appreciated from the chief Guest of the evening Girish Kumar.
Alfred Sequeira then spoke a few words thanking MCC for giving him the opportunity to patronage this tournament and for the honour. He praised the ladies for their sportsmanship and also thanked their families for supporting them in participating in these tournaments.
The Chief Guest then addressed the gathering and was in full praise of the club and congratulated the President for organizing such a spectacular tournament for ladies for the past 15 years and for giving an opportunity to the ladies to play in this part of the Gulf. He also congratulated all the teams for their participation in this sports event and wished the best for the finalist teams.
Naveen D’Souza, joint Sports Secretary delivered the vote of thanks. President and Sports Secretary then escorted the guests to meet the finalist teams and the team captains introduced their team players to the guests. Chief Guest Girish Kumar and Main Sponsor Rita Sequeira along with sponsors tossed the ball to the captains declaring the final match open.
After the thrilling finals, the prize distribution ceremony was presided over by Alfred and Rita Sequeira, Franky Quadros and the President Prakash Noronha. Cyril D’Souza honoured the match referee Lynel Jaison Lobo for officiating all matches of the tournament with a memento.
Deena Shingare, past Captain of MCC Team and President Prakash Noronha presented participation certificates to Karnataka Sangha, Al Khor Community and Konkan Star teams. Richard D’Souza presented the best smasher award to Angela Dias of MCC Team, KSQ President H.K Madhu presented the best all-rounder award to Swetha Shetty, TKQ President Ravi Shetty presented the best catcher to Suma Mahesh of MCC. Best Fair play team was awarded to Konkan Star Team.
Francis Quadros presented the medals and trophy to Runners–up Tulu Koota team while Vice President Ramachandra Shetty of Bunts Qatar presented them their certificates, Alfred and Rita Sequeira presented the Winners MCC team with medals, certificates and the Champions trophy to the reigning champions MCC team.
MCC Team was led by Captain Indira Kunder, Angela Antony, Mable Pereira, Maria D’Souza, Winnie Saldanha, Sunitha Tellis, Suma Mahesh, ,Aarti Fernandes, Siji Sunny, Treesa Goveas, Sunita D’Souza, Ashik Linda Lobo, Delita D’Souza, Sharon Lobo and Team Manager Riana Pinto. Team Coach Alexis Castelino.
Tulukoota team was led by Captain Vijaya Shetty, Shobha Shetty, Akshaya Shetty, Bharathi Shetty, Vani Prakash Rao, Jyothi Shetty, Shilpa Shetty, Reshma Sunil, Padmashree Shetty, Chandrakala Shetty, Praveena Shetty, Swetha Shetty, Aruna Shetty, Preethi Shetty and Team Coach : Prakash Rao.
The stage programme was well compered by Wilma D’Souza. The sports officials were John Britto and Vincent Mendonca as the rotation officers while Ryan Renjar, Arun D’Souza, Vijay D’Souza, Errol, Merwyn and Ranjith were the linesmen. The commentators’ desk was managed by Mishal Lovely Lobo, Mahesh Prabhu, Salam Mohammed Sheik, while the scoreboard was managed by Jessy Mendonca, Dephny Lobo and Preema Mathias and the registration desk was handled by Vanessa Saldanha.
Cheer girls Vanessa Fernandes, Lara D’souza, Nikita Rego, Navitha Rego and Viola Monteiro, cheered the teams and the crowd with their beautiful dances to some good numbers choreographed by Jyothi D’Souza and Prabha Rego. DJ Naveen rocked through the event playing some beautiful numbers.
Soon after the league matches, Tulu Koota Qatar club made use of the opportunity and carried its social activity Environment clean Campaign to bring awareness in our society of saving our environment where Tulukoota volunteers cleaned the ground and collected all garbage. President Ravi Shetty thanked MCC President Prakash Noronha for giving this opportunity and it was well appreciated by the chief Guest of the evening Girish Kumar.
MCC takes this opportunity to thank all volunteers for their tremendous support and help in organizing the event.
MCC thanks all its sponsors for their support. The Main Sponsor Alfred and Rita Sequeira, Prestige Sponsor: Francis Quadros and Jerald D’Mello. Co-Sponsors: Alan Currie, Wilfred Fernandes and Doha Bank. Other Sponsors: Ravi Shetty, Abdulla Monu, William Aranha, Asmath Ali and others.