lancers strive to bounce back against UP Wizards
Bhubaneswar: After a disheartening defeat against Uttar Pradesh Wizards in their previous encounter at lucknow, Kalinga lancers will recollect all their resources to put-up a stimulating performance against Uttar Pradesh Wizards at Kalinga Stadium on Saturday. Experienced coach Jude Felix-led team is practicing various strategies to win the game on their home turf. On the other side, Uttar Pradesh Wizards are upbeat after their stunning 5-1 win against Kalinga lancers. UP Wizards had scored four goals in the last eight minutes and earned 5 crucial points to topple Kalinga lancers to 3rd position in their preview encounter. All the players are now riding on confidence and very much motivated after getting back their lost form and will go all out to maintain their winning spree after tasting their first win. With the Dutch player Wouter Jolie and penalty corner specialist VR Raghunath as defenders, the lucknow-based team will utilise all their big guns such as Jeroen Hertzberger of Netherlands and SK Uthappa in the forward line, Dutch players Bob De Voogd and Alexander Baart along with Australian Eddie Ockenden in the midfield and world-class goal-keeper PR Sreejesh in their away match against Kalinga lancers in Bhubaneswar. Host team Kalinga lancers will strive to win their second match at their home turf, keeping revenge of their disappointing loss in their mind. Having talented players in the squad, which include Australia’s Russel Ford and lalit Upadhyay in the forward line, Ryan Archibald of New Zealand and skipper Vickram Kanth in midfield along with Argentinean Gonzalo Peillat and Gurjinder Singh in the defence line, Kalinga lancers will stick to their strategy of aggressive attacks from the first whistle and maintain pressure on the opponents. The host team will step on the Kalinga Stadium astro-turf to earn some good points, which will help their position in top four of the points-table. Now at 6 points, Kalinga lancers will lose their fourth position if they lost the match here on Saturday and defending champions Delhi Waveriders win their home match against Jaypee Punjab Warriors on 30 January 2015. Jude Felix, Coach, Kalinga lancers stated, “Thursday’s performance was very disappointing for the team but we are not demoralised. In the previous match, we gave a good fight to UP Wizards in the first three quarters of the match but we lost our momentum in the fourth quarter, which cost us the match. We still have the best players and young talents, who have ability to win any match. Boys have the confidence and now we have understood our opponents’ game, so we are looking forward to a good competition against UP.” “We committed silly mistakes in the defence line, which was tactfully materialised by UP Wizards. We focussed more on the midfield and lost our ground in the fourth quarter. We are now working on those mistakes and will try not to repeat those. Tomorrow is new match at our own turf in front of our fans. We are confident that we will deliver better results this time,” Captain Vickram Kanth of Kalinga lancers added.Roelant Oltmans, Coach of Uttar Pradesh Wizards said, “The rotation of captain in each game is working positively in our team. We won the last match under our new captain Wouter Jolie with a huge margin and we will try something different in tomorrow’s match as well. We will stick to our strategy of using new players and changing formations during the match tomorrow. Though this is an away match, our boys are confident of showcasing their best skills against Kalinga lancers tomorrow.”
Odisha register 1st innings lead against Punjab
Bhubaneswar: In replay to Punjab’s first innings score of 167 runs, Odisha scored 183 runs in 81.1 overs and registered 16 runs lead in the second day of their four day long group-B Ranji Trophy match at Mohali on Friday. In the second innings Punjab scored 37 runs for the loss of four wickets at day to stumps. In the inaugural day, four wickets each haul by Basant Mohanty and Deepak Behera of Odisha powered the team to restrict Punjab for 167 runs. Odisha added 129 runs by losing nine wickets to their overnight score of 54 runs by losing one wicket at day one stumps. Siddarth Kaul of Punjab scalped five wickets and restricted Odisha batsman’s easy going and put the break in the innings. In the second innings, Basant once again used his experience and bagged two wickets and supported by Alok Mangaraj and Deepak Behera both grabbed a wicket each. Punjab is struggling with 37 runs by losing four wickets. In the first innings, batting first Punjab never got a chance to build up their first innings. Opener Jiwanjot Singh scored 27 runs, Odisha bowlers Basant and Deepak dominated the Punjab batting lined up and they struggle at stage scored 73 runs for the loss on nine wickets. The last wicket 94 runs partnership between MS Gony and Sandeep Sharm managed to save Punjab’s face. While Gony contributed an unbeaten 51 runs and Sharma scored 35 runs.
Brief score: Punjab 167/10 in 57.2 overs (Jiwanjot Singh 27, Manpreet Singh Gony 52 n.o; Sandeep Sharma 35; Basant Mohanty 4/43, Deepak Behera 4/47, Alok Mangaraj 2/50) and 37/4 in 22 overs (Basant Mohanty 2/16) Vs Odisha 183/10 in 81.1 overs (Paresh Patel 27, Girija Rout 26, Anurag Sarangi 47, Haladhar Das 36; S Kaul 5/34, Sandeep Sharma 3/65).
RSP sets up Archery Centre and Gymnasium Complex
PNS/Rourkela: Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) CEO GS Prasad inaugurated the Archery Centre and the Gymnasium Complex at the Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium Complex. Notably, these facilities are the latest addition to the sporting facilities being provided by Rourkela Steel Plant. The centre boasts of State-of-the-art facilities for encouraging the players of Archery. The centre known as ‘Dhanurvidya Kendra’ will provide intensive training to local talents to groom them for participating in National and International archery events. Initially 10 boys and 10 girls have been identified for the training. The archery centre has been termed as the best archery ground in the state by the Secretary of Odisha Archery Association and the coach of Sports Authority of India. The gymnasium complex has excellent equipments for maintaining a great physique through world class exercising equipments. The gym has electronic treadmills, specialised exercise cycles, lifting and bodybuilding equipments. The facility will not only serve the employees of the steel plant but also the sportspersons of the city. It is worth mentioning here that RSP has been promoting sporting talents in the region in a big way and giving them a platform to showcase their talents. The SAIl Hockey academy run by RSP is one of the best coaching centres in the field of hockey. Sporting events such as Inter-School Cricket and Football Tournaments, Rural Hockey Tournament and Samvardhan Football and Kabaddi Tournaments are organised round the year by RSP to promote the culture of sports in the region.
Kishore Club wins Jadupur Cup Football inaugural
Bhubaneswar: Kishore Club of Bhubaneswar edged out Odisha Home Guard of Cuttack by 6-5 goals via through penalty kicks in the inaugural match of the 28th Jadupur Cup Football Tournament at Jaupur in the city outskirt, being organised by Jadupur Athletic Association. The match ended in 1-1 goal draw in the stipulated time. Kishor Club got the lead in the third minute of the game through the goal by Asutosh Pradhan. Adil Khan of the Home Guard team netted the equaliser in the 22nd minute. Bibhu Ranjan Champati of Kishore Club bagged the man of the match award. Siba Shankar Panda, Sekhawat Khan, Chandrakant Barik and Sujit Kumar Patra were conducted the match as referees. Mangala Club would meet SAI Hostel Cuttack on Saturday. Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda inaugurated the tournament as chief guest. Among others, BMC Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, corporater Nijamuddin, Jadupur Athletic Association president Dilawar Khan and secretary Daud Ali were present.
Odisha eves to meet Delhi in National football
Bhubaneswar: Odisha would face Delhi in the women football league match of the 35th National Games at Corporation Stadium, Trissur in Kerala on February 1. Altogether eight teams are participating in two groups. Odisha placed in the group-A along with the host Kerala, Delhi and West Bengal. The group-B teams are Manipur, Jharkhand, Pondicherry and Haryana.
