Pandanda Kuttappa

Pandanda Kuttappa and his brother Pandanda Kashi were the brain behind ‘Kodava Hockey Namme’ (Kodava Hockey Festival) in Coorg. This festival is recognized as one of the largest field hockey tournaments in the world and has been referred to the Guinness Book of Records

Family

Sibiling

Pandanda kashi Ponnappa

Achievements

• He conceived the idea of creating a platform in which the different Kodava families can get together. Realising the passion of hockey in Kodagu, he decided that a hockey festival would be a good event to bring Kodavas together. He also chose the hockey festival because he was disturbed about the growth of junior hockey players from Kodagu. The Tournament happens during the month of April-May every year.
• The inaugural tournament was held in 1997 and the finances for the tournament were provided by Kuttappa and his brother Pandanda late Kashi Ponnappa.
•  The first tournament held at Karada, known as Pandanda Cup attracted around 60 families. Some rules were framed which included that all the team members must belong to the same family (surname) and participate in a full hockey attire. Even women could be a part of the team and it was left to the woman to decide whether she wants to represent the father’s family or that of the husband’s.
• After the inaugural tournament, an academy called as The Kodava Hockey Academy was started to oversee and have the final say in all matters related to the future tournaments.
• Each subsequent tournament would be organised annually by a different Kodava family and the name of the family was given as the name of the tournament.
• The response to the tournament grew year by year.

Awards

• He was honoured Karnataka State Rajyotsava award for the year 2015.