About Kodava Hockey Academy
The parent governing authority of the Kodava Hockey Festival, preserving heritage and fostering sporting excellence since 2016.
Our Story
The Kodava Hockey Festival stands as one of Kodagu's most iconic cultural and sporting traditions—an annual celebration that unites families, preserves heritage, and showcases the unparalleled passion of the Kodava community for hockey.
To safeguard, promote, and professionally administer this extraordinary legacy, the Kodava Hockey Academy was formally constituted in 2016 as the parent governing authority of the festival.
The Academy was founded under the visionary leadership of Founding President Pandanda Kuttappa, the legendary architect of the Kodava Hockey Festival. Together with a dedicated team of like-minded leaders, he laid the foundation for an institution committed to preserving the festival's cultural depth and sporting excellence.
Today, the Kodava Hockey Academy continues to uphold this mission—ensuring that the spirit of Kodava hockey thrives across generations.
Our Vision
To preserve and elevate the Kodava community's rich sporting heritage by fostering unity, excellence, and youth development—while ensuring the Kodava Hockey Festival stands as a globally recognized symbol of cultural pride and athletic achievement.
Our Mission
- Host a world-class, professionally organized hockey festival rooted deeply in Kodava culture.
- Uphold and expand the legacy established by founding leaders.
- Promote youth development through mentorship, training, and active participation.
- Maintain transparency, fairness, and accountability in all organizational processes.
- Strengthen community bonds by engaging Kodava families across generations and the world.
Our Core Values
Unity
Bringing families, clans, and generations together through fellowship and sport.
Inspiration
Motivating youth through exemplary leadership and sporting role models.
Heritage
Preserving the cultural identity and traditions of the Kodava community.
Innovation
Embracing modern practices while honoring ancestral customs.
Integrity
Upholding fairness, transparency, and ethical leadership in every action.
Our Leaders
In the 2025 Kodava Hockey Academy Elections, the leadership of Pandanda Bopanna and his team received widespread support—ushering in a new, progressive era.
Pandanda Bopanna
Key Leadership Directions:
Legacy Preservation
Upholding the traditions, values, and authenticity that make the festival a symbol of Kodava identity.
Sports Development
Advancing player support, coaching quality, talent identification, grassroots training, and youth participation.
Community Unity
Ensuring the festival remains a celebration of pride, inclusiveness, and togetherness for all Kodava families.
Cheppudira Poonacha
His leadership is both inspirational and transformative:
Under their leadership, the Academy embodies stability, continuity, and renewed purpose—ensuring the festival grows stronger with every generation. With Pandanda Bopanna as President and Cheppudira Poonacha as Working President, the Academy is poised to enhance the Kodava Hockey Festival while fiercely preserving its cherished traditions.
Pandanda Kuttappa
15 March 1935 – 2020 | Founder, Kodava Hockey Festival
Early Life and Heritage
Born on 15 March 1935 in Virajpet, Kodagu, Pandanda Kuttappa emerged from the illustrious Pandanda family, a lineage renowned for its discipline, cultural values, and commitment to community leadership. Raised by his parents Pandanda Muddappa and Pandanda Dechavva, he grew up immersed in Kodava traditions that shaped his integrity, resilience, and deep sense of responsibility.
His schooling at Karada School cemented his love for learning, sports, and community life—an early foundation for the extraordinary legacy he would go on to build.
Family & Personal Life
Pandanda Kuttappa found unwavering companionship in his wife, Ammanichanda Leela Kuttappa, who stood by him throughout his remarkable journey. Together, they raised three children in a home rooted in warmth, discipline, and cultural pride:
- Daughter Suman – married to Biddatanda Pradeep
- Daughter Suchitha – married to Ballachanda Subramani
- Son Pandanda Bopanna – married to Nuchimandiyanda Jyothi Belliappa
Professional Journey
Pandanda Kuttappa pursued a distinguished career at the State Bank of India, where he rose to leadership through dedication, diligence, and uncompromising integrity. Alongside his banking career, he nurtured a profound passion for hockey, becoming a respected expert in the sport's technical dimensions.
As a senior umpire, he earned national recognition for his precise judgment, strategic insight, and exemplary impartiality—qualities that cemented his reputation as one of the sport's most respected figures.
The Birth of a Movement – 1997
In 1997, driven by a visionary desire to unite the Kodava community and preserve its unique cultural identity, Pandanda Kuttappa conceived the Kodava Family Hockey Festival—an idea that would transform Indian sports culture.
Strengthen family bonds across Kodagu
Empower women through equal participation
Preserve and celebrate Kodava traditions
Promote physical education and sportsmanship
Improve village-level sports infrastructure
Foster unity, harmony, and cultural pride
Prestigious Guests & National Recognition
Over the decades, the festival has attracted India's greatest hockey icons: M.P. Ganesh, B.P. Govinda, M.M. Somaya, Ashok Kumar, Leslie Claudius, Dhanraj Pillay, Sameer Dad, V.R. Raghunath, S.V. Sunil, Arjun Halappa, and Zafar Iqbal.
A landmark moment came in 2012 when Michael Nobbs, then coach of India's Olympic Hockey Team, graced the event for an exhibition match along with national players.
"Pandanda Kuttappa was more than the founder of a tournament—he was the architect of a movement that strengthened Kodava identity, empowered generations, and placed Kodagu on the world's sporting map. His legacy lives on in every match played on Kodava soil, in every family that comes together through hockey, and in every youth inspired by his vision. He remains a timeless symbol of leadership, unity, and cultural pride."
Legacy & The Academy
Following Kuttappa's passing in 2020, Pandanda Bopanna established the Kodava Hockey Academy to preserve and advance his vision. The Academy organizes training camps for Kodava youth, provides structured governance, introduced the Silver Rolling Trophy, and is working toward recognition from the Guinness World Records and the World Book of Records.
The Clan Legends
Names & details of the players who have played at state level & above in any sport, bringing pride to the Kodava community.
Machettira Raju Poovamma
Athletics - 400m
Beijing Olympics 2008, Rio Olympics 2016, Asian Games Gold (4x400m relay - 2014, 2018), Arjuna Award 2015
Born on 5 June 1990, is an Indian sprinter who competes in the 400 metres event. Currently ranked No.2 in Asia in the 400m category. Won Gold in 4x400m relay at 2014 Asian Games (Incheon) and 2018 Asian Games (Jakarta).
Maneyapanda Ashwini Nachappa
Sprints - 100m, 200m, 400m
Seoul Olympics 1988, Arjuna Award 1990, India's Champion Sprinter
Born on 21 October 1967, is an accomplished former athlete and Indian film actress. Outran champion P T Usha during the 1991 Open Nationals at New Delhi. Won gold, three silver and a bronze medal at Asian Track and Field Championships.
Bollanda Pramila Aiyappa
Heptathlon
Double Olympian (Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008), Asian Games Bronze 2010, First Kodava athlete to win individual medal at Asian Games
Born on May 8, 1977, in Kodagu. Made official debut at 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. At 2008 Beijing Olympics, competed for the second time. Finished fifth in the Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi with 5,330 points.
Codanda Muthaiah
Decathlon
5-time National Champion (1956-60), 1958 Asian Games, World University Games Budapest
Born on 30th April 1932 in Madikeri. First Indian to take part in 1954 World University Games in Budapest, Hungary. First Kodava athlete to break 400m hurdles record in 1957. Served as Technical Director for 1982 Asian Games. Received Rajyotsava Award and Golden Shoe Award for best coach in Asia at 1974 Tehran Games.
Cheppudira Poonacha
Hockey
Barcelona Olympics 1992, Working President of Kodava Hockey Academy
Distinguished Indian hockey player and Olympian who represented the nation at the Barcelona Olympics. Retired senior officer from State Bank of India. Now serves as Working President of Kodava Hockey Academy.
Kakera Prajwal Mandanna
Sprints - 100m
World Junior Athletics Championship (Finland), Asian Athletic Championship (Japan), State Record 10.03 seconds
From Mathoor Village, selected to Indian team for World Junior Athletic Championship in Finland. Won Bronze medal at Asian Athletic Championship in Japan 2018. Created state record clocking 10.03 seconds in Karnataka state athletic meet.
Bollanda Unnathi Aiyappa
Athletics - Long Jump, Hurdles
National U-14 Long Jump Gold (Ranchi), National U-16 Hurdles Gold (Assam)
Daughter of double Olympian Pramila Aiyappa and quartermiler B.P. Aiyappa. Won Long-Jump Gold Medal in U-14 category at Junior National Championships held at Ranchi with 5.40-metre leap.
Berera Poonam Belliappa
Athletics - Long Jump, Hurdles
National Junior Gold (Long Jump 1992), Junior Asian Athletics (1996), Multiple State Gold Medals
Born in 1979, one of the top athletes from Karnataka. Won gold medal for under-14 girls in long jump at National Junior Athletic Meet at Kolar (1992). Won 100M and 200M hurdles at Junior Nationals at Nagercoil (1996).
Paruvangada Ponnappa
Athletics - 400m
National Junior Champion 400M, Asian Games Silver (Bangkok 1970)
Represented India in many International Athletic meets. Was the National Junior Champion in 400M and Men's Champion in 400M. Won Silver Medal in Asian Games at Bangkok in 1970.
Paruvangada Nirmala Ponnappa
Athletics - 100m, 200m, 400m
National Champion 100M, 200M, 400M, All India Record Holder (Fastest Woman 100M), Two Asian Bronze Medals (Singapore 1970)
Born on 11 December 1953. Was the National Champion in 100M, 200M and 400M. Held the all India record for the fastest woman in 100M. Won Two Bronze medals in Asian Athletic meet held at Singapore in 1970.
Mukalera Padmini
Athletics - 100m, 200m
Asian Championship Bronze (Thailand), International Medal Winner
From Ponnampet, an ace sprinter who had a passion for sports at a very young age. Won many medals in 100 and 200 mts representing India. Won a bronze medal at Asian championship at Pathumathani, Thailand.
Kunjiyanda Ayyanna
Athletics - 100m
National Level Athlete, Beat Milkha Singh multiple times, Held 100M National Record
Born 2 Aug 1929. National Level athlete who had the credit of winning over Mr Milkha Singh the Flying Sikh few times at different meets. Had a record for 100 Mtrs for some period unbeaten. Served in Indian Army and later BEML.
Are You a Kodava Legend?
If you feel we have missed your name, and you have played at state level and above in any sport, kindly fill the below form with your name, photo, contact number, details & certifications.
Upcoming Tournaments (2026-2036)
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