Pandanda Kuttappa (86), who conceived the idea of the Kodava family hockey tournament which morphed into a major sporting event and festival in Kodagu, passed away in Bengaluru on Thursday. A former State Bank of India employee and an ex-first division hockey referee, Pandanda Kuttappa was bestowed the Karnataka Rajyothsava award in 2015. The first tournament was held in Kuttappa’s native village of Karada and nearly 60 teams took part in it. The format of the tournament was such that every year one of the Kodava clans had to host the event. More than 300 Kodava families would send their teams for the tournament that used to be held during April/May and draw a full-house crowd.

Source: The Hindu May 07, 2020 13:18 UTC