OCA announces team for Buchi Babu Cricket
Bhubaneswar: The OCA Senior Selection Committee meeting on Saturday and announced a 17-member team to represent the State Team in the ensuing All India Buchi Babu Invitational Cricket Tournament scheduled to be held at Chennai from August 15 to 31. The team will leave for Chennai on August 13. Odisha placed in group-C along with Kerala and Baroda. In the three-day-long inaugural match Odisha would meet Kerala from August 15 to 18. Allrounder Biplab Samantary would lead the team as skipper.
Team: Girija Rout, Pratik Anurag Das, Pratik Das, Haladhar Das (WK), Anurag Sarangi, Govind Podder (Vice Captain), Biplab Samantray (Captain), Abhilash Mallick, Aravind Kumar Singh, Subhrajit Sahoo (WK), Tukuna Sahoo, Alok Sahoo, Alok Mangaraj, Suryakanta Pradhan, Preetamjit Das, Dhiraj Singh, Paresh Patel, supporting staff; Debasis Mohanty (coach), SS Das (batting coach), Subhasis Bhuyan (manager), Subhakant Sahoo (physio), Manoj Biswal (trainer) .
Keshabananda Memorial Chess from Aug 18
Bhubaneswar: Khordha District Chess Association is all set to host 3rd Keshabananda Das Memorial All India Above 1900 FIDE Rating Chess Championship-2014 here at from August 18 to 24. The players 1900 rating and above would participate in the seven day long meet. Altogether 120 players including 10 from Odisha are expected to participate in the meet. 2 GM, 13 IM, 4 WGM, 4 FM, 5 WFM and many national champions of different age group have already confirmed to participate in this prestigious tournament, informed Subhasis Patnaik. The tournament featuring total cash award of `5 lakhs. The champion would receive the trophy along with cash award of `1.5 lakhs and the runners-up team to get `70,000. For the first time in the State Keshabananda Das was organized two National tournaments in 1974 and 1975 to papularised chess. He also invited legendary chess player Soviet and Russian chess coach Yuri Averbakh to Odisha in 1974. He was the first author to write a book on chess in Odia language in 1982.
Rural Football Tournament inaugurated
Rourkela: The Samvardhan Rural Football Tournament organised by the CSR department of Rourkela Steel Plant inaugurated at Ispat stadium on Saturday by GS Prasad, CEO, RSP. Congratulating the teams for qualifying for the finals, Prasad said, “The purpose of the event is to unearth new talent. Once discovered these talents will be imparted training and all possible support will be extended to them. I believe that many talents will be spotted as this region of Sundargarh is known for its sporting capabilities.” It is worth mentioning here that the first phase of the tournament was earlier held in four blocks, in which 128 teams had participated. The winner and runners-up teams from each block are participating in the Tournament to be played at Ispat Stadium. From Nuagaon block, Gopur and Ankurpalli villages, from Bisra block Jhirpani and Kapranda villages, from Kuarmunda block, Talosiria and Chandiposh and from lathikata block, Sunmarin and Bolani teams are in the fray at the quarter finals. The final match of the tournament will be held on Sunday.
lIC East Central Athletic meet concludes
Bhubaneswar: C Kujur of Jamshedpur (Javelin, Hammer, Discus throw, women category), GD Salma of Berahampur (200,400 meter race), CB Kumar Muzaffarpur (Shot put, Hammer throw), PK Mohanty of Bhubaneswar (Javelin throw), TK Das of Patna (Shot Put, Discus), RK Sahoo of Bhubaneswar (Javelin) and MS Bal of Bhubaneswar (400 meter) bagged medal in the two-day-long lIC East Central Zonal Athletic meet, which concluded at Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday and qualified for the national lIC meet. Total 57 athletes from Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha were participated. Central Zone HRD manager Bikash Ranjan Ray distributed the prizes as the chief guest of the closing ceremony. Among others, Sripati Hansda NP Chawal inaugurated the meet in presence of Sripati Hansda and Ramakant Dash were present.
6 Hockey Gangpur players in HIl auction
Bhubaneswar: Six players of Hockey Gangapur Odisha have been selected for the Hockey India league (HIl) auction, informed Hockey Gangapur Odisha secretary Debasis Gouda. Rosan Minz, Bikash Tappo, Asis Anmol Minz (forward), Banamali Xess (mid-fielder), William Xalco (defender) and Dinesh Ekka (goalkeeper) are the six players. Earlier, Hockey Gangpur emerged champion in the 4th Senior National B Championship held at lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. The players got selected on the basis of their performance in the national B meet. Odisha defenders always have a special mark in the national platform. I strongly believe that our forward players are equally tough. When our team emerged champion in the national tournament how it was possible without a strong forward line-up, said Gouda.
Former Indian hockey icon in steel city
Bhubaneswar: The member of the 1975 world cup winner Indian Hockey team and son of legendary Dhyanchand, Ashok Kumar arrived the Steel City Rourkela to train the inmates of SAIl Hockey Academy.
Ashok Kumar (64) who is associated with Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy as a technical advisor will train the young buds of hockey for a week. On the first day he had trained the guys on various aspects of hockey, technical aspects, team spirit and tips to be a successful player in modern hockey pattern. Then he has also supervised the practical sides of each player.
It is to be mentioned here that in between 1970-79 he had representated India in four world cups (1970, 1973, 1975, 1978), two Olympics (1972, 1976) and three Asiad (1970, 1974, 1978). He was conferred with Arjun Award in 1974. In 1975 World Cup he had scored the victory goal for India. Expressing his satisfaction with the facilities available in Biju Pattanaik Hockey Stadium and amenities given to the inmates by SAIl. His intention of coming here to encourage the players with positive aspects by removing the negative thoughts from their minds added Kumar.