Brahmavar HMC United Cricket Trophy: Khushi Amar Panchajanya Declared Winners, Jayakarnataka Runners-up Through Lucky Draw
Udupi: The winners of the Brahmavar HMC United Tennis Ball Cricket Trophy, which was cancelled midway following several controversies, were decided on Monday through a lucky draw. Khushi Amar Panchajanya was declared the winner and lifted the trophy, while Bengaluru Jayakarnataka emerged as the runners-up.
The selection process was held at Hotel Manipal Inn in Udupi. Prize money totalling ₹20 lakh was distributed, with ₹5 lakh each awarded to the winner, runner-up, and the two teams that had qualified for the semifinals — Izan Chaitanya Pfizer HM Ekta and Friends Bengaluru.
The HMC United Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament was organised at Brahmavar for three days starting January 23. The event carried one of the highest prize pools in tennis ball cricket history, featuring 16 selected teams. Players from Bengaluru, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, and Gulf countries participated, representing various teams. Initially, the prize money announced was ₹25 lakh for the champions and ₹15 lakh for the runners-up.
On the final day of the tournament, January 25, controversy erupted during the closing moments of the quarterfinal match between Johnson Kundapur and Panchajanya, leading to confusion and unrest. As maintaining law and order became difficult, the organisers cancelled the tournament. The incident sparked widespread debate and discussion on social media.
Subsequently, after the matter was addressed at the police station, the organisers disqualified Johnson Kundapur, the team at the centre of the controversy, and declared Khushi Amar Panchajanya a semifinalist. A lucky draw was then conducted among the four semifinalist teams — Jayakarnataka Bengaluru, Friends Bengaluru, Izan Chaitanya Pfizer HM Ekta, and Khushi Amar Panchajanya.
In the draw, Panchajanya and Jayakarnataka advanced to the final. The winner was then decided through a coin toss, with Panchajanya declared champions.
Tournament organiser Shakeel Honnala provided details about the event. HMC United Honorary President K.P. Ibrahim Matapady, former president Sanjeeva Kotyan, The Universal Idol Chairman Shafi Ahmed, and others were present on the occasion.
