Saudi Arabia: Exciting and thrilling MASA Premier League 2021 – Season 1

Sunil Puthran & Ravi Karkera
January 18, 2021

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Riyadh: On Friday, the 15th Jan 2021 history was scripted as MASA the well-known charitable organization organized the first ever MASA PREMIER LEAGUE CRICKET TOURNAMENT (MPL – 2021) season – 1, ‘ARTLAND TROPHY’ for a noble cause at the DCA ground in Rakha Saudi Arabia.

The inaugural tournament was powered by ARTLAND TRANSPORT SERVICE Co along with Six Franchisee Team Owners namely: Kudla Royal Challengers (KRC) of Naveen Shetty, Al Khobar, Sasihithlu Beach Boys (SBB) of Ravi Karkera, Intermodal SA 11 (IMS) of Messrs. Vishwanath Hegde & Sadashiv Poojary, Namma Kudla Strikers (NKS) of Messrs. Dayanand Shriyan & Naveen Bhandary, Kottara Katpady Royals (KKR) of Messrs. Narendra Shetty & Jitesh Kottara, Gadi Nadu Warriors (GNW) of Messrs. Gopal Shetty & Imran Karkala.

Co-sponsored by FEOL (Sathish Shetty), CLC Pest & Termite Control (Joy Suvarna), AYD (Mohammed Sharif), AKTS (Abdul Mohsen) and SASP (Yogeesh Poojary). Also, generously supported by Messrs. Naveen Bhandary, Khobar Seniors Group, Khobar Friends Group, Santhosh Shetty Dubai, Ameer Hussain, Sunil Puthran, Arun D’ Souza, Uday Sanil, Usman Hosangadi & Group, Ganesh Karkera, Sathish Bajal, Rajesh Shetty, Sudarshan Sanil, Kiran Upadhyaya.

GADDINADU WARRIORS became the first to emboss their name winning the tournament beating SASIHITLU BEACH BOYS in the final and create history.

This prestigious tournament was played between six franchises owned by senior MASA members. Players were nominated from the pool of exclusive top-rated players who are members of the MASA and an elite bunch of non-members divided into six teams. 

The teams were selected through a bidding process as players were scattered into different categories and each team given an equal number of points based on select group of players. The bidding process was thoroughly conducted in true manner of professionalism which was lauded by all. 

First of its kind this format became very popular in the region and MASA is proud to say that many other associations are approaching the core committee members of MPL for guidance.

The Core committee members were RAVI KARKERA, GOPAL SHETTY, AMEER HUSSAIN, NAVEEN SHETTY & SACHIN HEGDE.

MASA being a charitable organization in the Eastern Province in KSA is well known in the middle east and coastal Karnataka for their noble service to humanity helping the downtrodden people in Karnataka irrespective of cast, creed and religion. MASA established in October, 2006 has contributed around Rs 2 crores of aid towards Medical, Educational and financial help to the needy back home in Coastal Karnataka.

In the year 2020 during the COVID pandemic MASA helped around Rs 15 lacs to the people in need.  Besides, locally in the region, MASA stretched their helping hands to various individuals belonging to Karnataka origin by arranging food and financial aid.   

Apart from Charity which is its core objective, MASA has been instrumental over the years in developing hidden talents of the core MASA members be it teens, youngsters, or the superstars of yester years. MASA is extremely proud to say that some of them are now established as international stars who started their journey in MASA. 

Franchise Teams, Owners, Captains:

Franchise

Owners

Captain

1

Intermodal SA 11

Vishwanath Hegde & Sadashiv Poojary

Sampath Shetty

2

Sasihithlu Beach Boys

Ravi Karkera

Yoganand A. Kinnigoli

3

Namma Kudla Strikers

Dayananda Shriyan & Naveen Bhandary

Mohammed Iqbal

4

Kudla Royal Challengers

Naveen Shetty

Sandesh Thadambail

5

Kottara Katpady Royals

Narendra Shetty & Jitesh Kottara

Sudheer Shetty

6

Gadi Nadu Warriors

Gopal Shetty &   Imran Karkala

Vaishak Shetty

A large holiday crowd enjoyed the day with family and friends watching thrilling games with close encounters and nail-biting finish, relishing lovely snacks, lunch and braving the lusty weather adhering strictly to safety norms and maintaining social distancing. 

Achievers for the daylong event: 
WINNERS: GADI NADU WARRIORS - Vaishak Shetty & Team of Imran Karkala & Gopal Shetty.
RUNNERS UP: SASIHITHLU BEACH BOYS 11 – Yogananda Acharya & Team of Ravi Karkera
Man of the Series: Nisar Ahmad (GNW)
Bowler of the Tournament: Naveen Salian (SBB XI)
Batsman of the Tournament: Nisar Ahmad (GNW)
Maximum Sixes: Sachin Hegde & Nisar Ahmad (GNW)
Man of the match in Final: Sachin Hegde (GNW)
Man of the match in Semi Final 1: Nisar Ahmad (GNW)
Man of the match in Semi Final 2: Mohammed Kota (SBB)
Man of the match in League Matches: Nisar Ahmad (GNW), Sachin Hegde (GNW), Afwan Karkala (SBB), Naveen Salian (SBB), Haris Bajal (KRC), Sudhir Shetty (KKR).

Prize distribution ceremony was conducted professionally by Sports Committee Head, Ameer Hussain. Chief Guest, Joel Gomes, representing ARTLAND Transport Co, Dignitaries, Guests, Sponsors, Franchise Owners, EXCOM & Advisory Com members were welcomed to the dais. 

MASA President Naveen Bhandari warmly welcomed the guest’s participants and thanked sponsors for their valuable contributions. He appreciated the effort of Core Committee Members for bringing out such a wonderful format of MPL 2021. The extra ordinary effort of Gopal Shetty in arranging attractive Trophies, uniforms, mementos and ground facilities are highlighted during his address. 

Ravi Karkera from Advisory Committee congratulated winners, all the participating teams and team members for their contribution in bringing up sunshine in someone’s life by participating in this MPL 2021, Cricket tournament which is played for noble cause with true sportsmen spirit.  He also thanked all sponsors, franchise owners, Masa members who supported whole heartedly with their generous contributions. Perennial contributions and great support from philanthropist Mr. Joey Fernandes were remembered during this special occasion. 

Sports Committee Head Ameer Hussain thanked everyone who were responsible for the success of the tournament, including the participants, sponsor’s, volunteers and committee members, who contributed in every possible way to make this event a memorable one.

The basking glory of this stupendous success of the inaugural MASA MPL is credited to the sponsors, the core committee, MASA members, players, participants and all the lovely crowd who witnessed an historic and memorable event which was paralleled symbolically in line to the IPL. 

MASA extends their wholehearted appreciation and sincerely would like to thank every individual who directly or indirectly contributed to make this event a grand success, indeed a thrilling exciting & rejoicing day for all to remember.

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News Network
April 8,2025

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Bengaluru: The results of the PUC 2 examination one were announced today with an over all pass percentage of 69.16 as against the 81.15% in the 2024 exam 1.

Due to several examination reforms, including installation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled CCTV cameras in the examination hall to check malpractices and webcasting of the entire process, the results seem to have dipped by 11.99% compared to the previous year.

The results will be available online after 1:30pm. Candidates can visit http://karresults.nic.in to check their results.

Amoolya M Kamath from Expert PU college Dakshina Kannada, Deeksha R from Vagdevi PU College Shivamogga have topped the state in science stream by scoring 599 for 600.

In Commerce Deepashree S from Canara PU College Dakshina Kannada emerged as topper with 599 out of 600 and in Arts LR Sanjana Bai of Indu Independent PU college Kottur in Ballari bagged the first place by scoring 597.

Minister for School Education and Literacy Madhu Bangarappa released the results and said, "students those who have failed or those who wish to improve their marls can take exam 2 and 3. We will not be charging any fee for exam 2 and 3."

"I will not say students are failed. As the exam process will complete only after 3rd exam, we have hopes to improve the results by 3-4%," he mentioned.

"We have opportunity to improve the results. We have conducted the exams with complete vigil by preventing all the malpractices by monitoring through webcasting," said the minister.

For exams 1 total of 6,37,805 were appeared of which 468439 managed to clear the exams.

This time department has not given any grace marks, except the one which awards to push those who were in border line. "There were over 8297 students in the borderline and pushed with the grace as per scheme of evaluation," the minister added.

Udupi Leads Again

The coastal district of Udupi has emerged as the top performer once again, recording a remarkable 93.90% pass rate, as per a report on One India. Dakshina Kannada followed closely with 93.57%, while Bangalore South stood third at 85.36%. At the bottom of the list, Yadgir reported the lowest pass percentage with 48.45%.

Here are the top 10 performing districts:

Udupi – 93.90%
Dakshina Kannada – 93.57%
Bangalore South – 85.36%
Kodagu – 83.84%
Bangalore North – 83.31%
Uttara Kannada – 82.93%
Shimoga – 79.91%
Bangalore Rural – 79.70%
Chikmagalur – 79.56%
Haveri – 76.56%

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News Network
April 14,2025

Bengaluru: The leaked contents of Karnataka’s long-awaited caste census suggest a significant policy shift—extending the creamy layer rule to Category 1 castes under the backward classes reservation list. This category includes some of the most disadvantaged nomadic and microscopic communities.

The commission, headed by Jayaprakash Hegde, has reportedly recommended that the creamy layer policy—already applied to categories 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B—be extended to Category 1. The report notes that some groups within Category 1 have achieved considerable progress socially, economically, educationally, and politically, thus justifying the introduction of a filtering mechanism.

The panel emphasized the growing inequality within Category 1 itself, stating that children from impoverished farming and labourer families are unable to compete with the children of wealthier households in the same category.

“The competition is stiff here and there is a threat that this category may become one populated by the rich in due course if the creamy layer policy is not implemented,” the report reportedly states.

It further underlines that to fulfil the constitutional goal of equitable opportunities, the policy must be introduced across all categories of backward classes, including Category 1.

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Agencies
April 6,2025

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New Delhi, Apr 6: President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was passed by Parliament earlier this week.

Murmu also gave her assent to the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025.

"The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the president on April 5, 2025, and is hereby published for general information: The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025," the government said in a notification.

Parliament early on Friday approved the Bill after the Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the contentious legislation following an over 13-hour debate.

The discussion witnessed staunch objections from opposition parties, which termed the Bill "anti-Muslim" as well as "unconstitutional", while the government responded that the "historic reform" would benefit the minority community.

The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it.

It was passed in the Lok Sabha early on Thursday, with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it.

Parliament had also approved the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod. The Lok Sabha had already given its assent to the Bill.

After the president gave her assent, it has also become a law.

Congress MP Mohammad Jawed and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday challenged the validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Supreme Court, saying it violated constitutional provisions. 

Jawed's plea alleged the Bill imposed "arbitrary restrictions" on Waqf properties and their management, undermining the religious autonomy of the Muslim community.
The petition, filed through advocate Anas Tanwir, said it discriminated against the Muslim community by "imposing restrictions that are not present in the governance of other religious endowments".

Jawed, the Lok Sabha MP from Kishanganj in Bihar, was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Bill and alleged in his plea that it "introduces restrictions on the creation of Waqfs based on the duration of one's religious practice".

In his separate plea, Owaisi said the Bill took away from Waqfs various protections accorded to Waqfs and Hindu, Jain and Sikh religious and charitable endowments alike.

Owaisi's plea, filed by advocate Lzafeer Ahmad, said, "This diminishing of the protection given to Waqfs while retaining them for religious and charitable endowments of other religions constitutes hostile discrimination against Muslims and is violative of articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution, which prohibit discrimination on the grounds of religion."

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