Veteran Badminton players Arun Poovaiah and Ashok Poovaiah — Poovaiah Brothers — were felicitated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the inauguration of Chief Minister’s Mangalore India International Challenge-2025, organised by Dakshina Kannada Badminton Association at Urwa Indoor Stadium in Mangaluru on Oct. 27, in recognition of their outstanding contribution and distinguished career spanning 45 years. Native of Nelji, near Napoklu in Kodagu, they are the sons  of late Maleyanda Machi – Poovaiah and are presently coaching budding Badminton players in Bengaluru.