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Doha, Nov 2: Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC) team emerged as the overall Champions of the 13th Annual MCC Ladies Throw ball organized by Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC), Qatar in a well fought and thrilling final matches at the old Ideal Indian School grounds on Friday October 31 evening.MCC beat the reigning champions TKQ in a close finish final match with the score on 25-18, 30-28.

Whenever traditional rivals Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC) and Tulu Koota Qatar (TKQ) have locked horns in the annual throwball tourney here, the audience have been dished out with sumptuous sporting spectacle. The two bitter on-field rivals have the habit of creating numerous ‘heart-in-the-mouth’ situations, keeping the audience on their toes. Their rivalry is such that spectators always wish to see them in the finals. And everytime they have faced each other in the finals, the sports lovers have seen the ‘paisa vasool’ performance.

Friday October 31, 2014 was no exception. For a change, this time MCC thus sweetly avenged their last year’s defeat in the hands of TKQ. MCC had defeated TKQ in the league stage as well and by again demolishing the same opponent in straight sets in the final, MCC reigned supreme. MCC lead by feisty Indira Kunder, downed TKQ team led by gusty Shobha Shetty in two tough sets 25-18, 30-28. MCC proved to be real champions in the second set where they squandered 3 match points and saved one before clinging on the 4th match point. At the end the team that held its nerves in the crucial moments and played the big point better, lifted the coveted trophy. Two equally good teams that matched each other in every department took the final match to the wire. But MCC led impressively lead by Indira, supported well by the ‘Player of the Tournament’ Aarti Fernandes, ‘Best Smasher’ Angela Anthony and boisterous support of the crowd that cheered, danced and rejoiced at each point overcame spirited challenged posed by their bitter on-field rivals.

Earlier in the semi-finals TKQ defeated Karnataka Sangha Qatar (KSQ) while host MCC defeated Al Khor Community to reach the finals. In the leagues matches in Group B MCC defeated TKQ and another tough team Konkan Stars to reach the semi finals, while TKQ defeated Konkan stars to enter the semis. In Group A Karnataka Sangha defeated Al Khor Community and with one walk over point reached the semis while Al Khor community made a straight entry to the semis. A total of 6 teams had participated in this year’s tournament.

The annual tourney, one of the most popular events among the Mangalorean community in Qatar was inaugurated on Thursday October 30, 2014 evening after MCC dynamic president Norbert Corda had welcomed the gathering. In his welcome speech, Norbert specially thanked all the team, their coaches and managers for participating despite the busy schedule. MCC sports secretary Alexis Castelino then introduced the 6 teams, that is, Karnataka Sangha Qatar (KSQ), Tulu Koota Qatar (TKQ), Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC), Konkan Stars, Al Khor Community and Royal Warriors. The captains of each team and the players along with match referee & sports officials then participated in the oath-taking ceremony before the inaugural match between KSQ and the Royal Warriors.

Special attraction of the evening were the cheer girls Christle, Clarissa, Astra, Gishal & Adeline who cheered the teams and the crowd with their beautiful dances to some good numbers under the guidance of Prabha Rego.

Before the finals, in the official stage program MCC President Norbert Corda escorted the guests Main Sponsor Alfred & Rita Sequeira, Managing Director Gulf International Enterprises –Platinum sponsor Rammurthy - Sr. Manager & Hameed HR Manager of EMCO Qatar, Golden sponsor Allen Currie, Finance Manager of Qatar Kentz, MCC Founder & Advisory member Jerald D’Mello along with Sports secretary Alexis Castelino to the stage. They were greeted with flower bouquets by our tiny tots. Ryan Renjar, Joint Secretary then conducted the march past inviting all the teams to the thunderous applaud of the audience. Joint Sports Secretary Violet Veigas welcomed the guests, teams and the gathering. President Norbert Corda then delivered the presidential message and honoured the sponsors with a memento while Jerald DMello honoured the teams with a memento for their participation. Sports Secretary Alexis Castelino then proposed the vote of thanks Guests then joined the team captains with Sports team and released balloons as a sign of joy. Later the team captains introduced their team players to the guests and Rita Sequeira tossed the ball to the captains declaring the final match open.

The prize distribution ceremony was presided over by Alfred and Rita Sequeira, the main sponsors of the tournament. Platinum sponsor Mr. Hameed HR Manager of EMCO Qatar, MCC president Norbert Corda, advisory board member Jerald D’Mello, vice-president Prakash Noronha and sports secretary Alexis Castelino, too were present on the dais.
MCC then honoured the official referee Jason Lionel Lobo for his services and Rotation Officer Wilfred Crasto for his continued support to the organizing committee in the past 13 years.

MCC Qatar players Aarti Fernandes was presented with the ‘ Best Player’ trophy while Angela Anthony bagged the ‘Best Smasher’ award.

The runners-up Tulu Koota Qatar team players were presented with the individual trophy & certificates by Mrs. Rita Sequeira while Mr. Hameed presented the Runners-up trophy to the Captain Vijaya Shetty. TKQ team players were : Vijaya Shetty, Jyothi Shetty, Akhila Rao, Padmashree Shetty, Akshatha Hegde, Vani Rao, Sudha Shetty, Lily D’souza, Shobha Shetty, Shilpa Shetty, Aruna Shetty and Maina Shetty, team manager Mrs, Milan Arun

The Champions MCC team players were presented with the individual trophy & certificates by Mrs. Rita Sequeira while Mr. Alfred Sequeira presented the Champions trophy to the MCC team captain Indira Ravi Kunder. MCC team players were: Aarti Fernandes, Angela Antony, Sunita Tellis, Winnie Saldanha, Sunita D’Souza, Premila D’Souza, Evett Quadros, Siji Sunny, Ancy Leo, Treeza Goveas, and Nita, Team manager Maria D’Souza

The stage program was compered by MCC joint-cultural secretary Mishal Lovely lobo.

Gulf International Enterprises, the official distributor of 3 Horses malt beverage, was the main sponsor, Platinum sponsor EMCO Qatar, Golden sponsor Qatar Kentz, Silver Sponsors Radisson Blu Hotel, Land Trades Developers Mangalore, and Al Amer Garage & Transport , co-sponsor Euro Parts, Support sponsors were Al Zaman Exchange, Flounge Mangalore, Wings International Trading& Contracting, Golden Trading and Decoration, Popular Mills, Northern Sky Properties, Canara Jewellers and Royal Udupi

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