The North American Throwball Federation (NATF), also known as the North America Sports Association (NASA), reached a major milestone by hosting the National Men’s and Women’s Throwball Tournament on October 26th in Dallas. This landmark event, organized in partnership with the International Throwball Federation (ITF) and the Telugu Association of North America (TANA), highlighted throwball’s growing prominence in North America.
Prominent leaders, including NATF President Manu Gondi, NATF Vice President Vasantha Kavuri, ITF Vice President for North America Thejesh Rajappa, and TANA Sports Coordinator Nagamalleswara Panchumarthi played pivotal roles in the event’s success. Their dedication and teamwork greatly elevated the tournament, bringing widespread visibility and enthusiasm to throwball. NATF Media Coordinator Kavya Vurukula’s media creativity also generated substantial buzz around the tournament.
Representing ITF, Assistant Secretary General Sampoorna Hegde and Technical Committee Convenor Ramu Pilli traveled from India to attend. The ITF team’s involvement brought a professional touch to the event, with Ramu Pilli serving as head coach and adding energy to the proceedings. Sampoorna Hegde engaged players by presenting the health benefits of throwball, including improved blood circulation through acupressure. She also highlighted an ongoing study on how throwball may help elderly people manage knee pain.
The event commenced at 9 AM, with Manu Gondi addressing the shared vision of advancing throwball toward Olympic recognition, emphasizing the sport’s rapid growth. The event began with an auspicious start, featuring the Ganesha song, setting a tone of reverence and positivity. This was followed by the American National Anthem, honoring the host country and celebrating the unity of participants from diverse backgrounds. This meaningful opening underscored the blend of cultural respect and sporting spirit that defined the tournament
Initially planning for 14 teams, NATF expanded to accommodate 26 due to increased interest. The federation carefully structured the tournament into three divisions to provide a positive experience for all teams, awarding trophies across divisions. Another primary goal of NATF was to maintain player confidence on the court, with referees Ravi Krishna Mannam, Roopesh Ramanna, Rohith Munipally,Vivek Raja, and Nadia Khan trained to explain fouls clearly, supporting players’ understanding and growth.
This event also drew strong support from sponsors, especially in promoting women’s empowerment in sports. The men’s tournament added excitement as the first of its kind in North America. TANA regional coordinator Paramesh Devineni, along with TANA Councilor-At large Sateesh Kommana,TANA Board of Director Malli Vemana attended and sponsored the event, further endorsing this goal. Former TANA Sports Coordinator Sashank Yarlagadda, who played a key role in uniting the NATF members, also attended the event. His presence was a reminder of the foundational support and vision that helped bring the NATF team together, contributing to the growth and success of throwball in North America.
Behind the scenes, numerous volunteers like Swetha Bommareddy, Naveena Parasa,Rohith Thota, Divya Goshamahal Sanathan,Naga Ramesh Kamisetti, Varsha Natraajan, and Dhanya Vijay, Bhargav Gorantla,Bhavana Kamisetti,Srivastav Banda,Satya keerthi kotte, kavitha worked tirelessly to keep the tournament on schedule.
The website team, led by Srikanth Gumireddy another key contributor, provided live scores online and managed team registrations and random draws, ensuring a smooth experience for players and fans alike.
TANA in collaboration with NATF will be hosting their next 2025 tournament on May 3rd Saturday at Charlotte, NC
