Madikeri: The 26th annual family hockey festival is being organised by the Chenanda family in Napoklu and will be held next April-May 2026.Preparations for the festival are under way, and recently chief minister Siddaramaiah released the logo of the hockey festival. With the concept of ‘One Goal One Plant’, tree planting events were organised at various locations.The Chenanda family has also organised a district-level hockey tournament for primary and high schools in the district. Scheduled from Jan 1 to 4 at the Lalu Muddaya Stadium in Murnad, it aims to nurture young hockey talents, encouraging them to take up the sport from an early age. The tournament is a collaborative effort with the school education department, which has shown support for this endeavour.The tournament is open to all schools in the district, irrespective of caste or creed, with the goal of fostering a love for hockey among children. The concept, ‘Hockey Stick with Premature Stage,’ emphasises the importance of introducing the sport to children early, potentially paving the way for them to represent the country at national and international levels.The tournament will feature junior umpires from the Hockey Coorg Institute, and Kodava Hockey Academy is also lending its support. Olympian Cheppudira N Poonacha and national coach BJ Cariappa will be involved in selecting 30 talented children during the event. These selected players will receive further training in Napoklu in April, with the top 10 being groomed for advanced training at a sports hostel. The initiative is not just about competition; it also focuses on providing opportunities and resources for young players.The winning team will receive recognition from the Hockey Coorg, along with cash prizes and trophies.
