Kalinga and Ranchi Rays set to clash in HIl opener
Bhubaneswar: The third season of the Hero Hockey India league (HIl) is all set to commence from Thursday and will see Kalinga lancers and Ranchi Rays fighting it out in the opening match of the league, where Kalinga lancers will be supported by an enthusiastic home crowd while Ranchi Rays’ will be seen exercising their experience in the league.
The two teams met each other twice last year during the HIl , where the first match was won by Ranchi, with Kalinga lancers striking back in the second match going on to settle scores. While the scores were settled in the last edition it will be interesting to see who will have the better of the other in the opening match tomorrow. Recently announced as the Captain of the team, midfielder Ashley Jackson will be seen leading the Ranchi Rays’ squad along with the strong support of Mandeep Singh, Nicolas Wilson and Trent Mitton at the forward line-up, Kothajit Singh, Manpreet Singh, Austin Smith, Barry Middleton at the midfield along with Birendra lakra, Nick Budgeon and Amit Rohidas at defence.
While there will huge expectations from Trent Mitton who would be for the first time representing Ranchi Rays this year, Captain Ashley Jackson will also have to play an important role of converting the penalty corners. With Tyler lovell coming in as the Goalkeeper for the team the Ranchi unit looks strong and ready to take on the challenge of the upcoming league and will be looking at repeating the feat of the first edition and taking home the Trophy.
Coming into the league as the newly announced Captain, midfielder Vickram Kanth, the Kalinga lancers on the other hand will see an equally competitive line-up, being supported by lalit Upadhyay, Roshan Minz, lucas Villa and Russell Ford as forwards, Devinder Sunil Walmiki, Kiel Brown, and Glenn Simpson as midfielders along with defenders like Gurjinder Singh, Gonzalo Peillat and Ramon Alegre. Picked up by Kalinga lancers this year, all eyes will be on the young Gurjinder Singh who was seen converting important penalty corners in the recently culminated Champions Trophy. Along with him the team will be looking up to Gonzalo Peillat whose tally of 8 goals in the last edition made him the second player who scored the most goals.
Where majority of the Ranchi squad will be playing for the third consecutive time in the Hero Hockey India league, Kalinga lancers will not allow deterring their spirits to go for the kill. With preparations picking up pace in both the clans, the opening match holds utmost importance for the two to make their presence felt in the tournament. Hence, the inaugural battle between the Ranchi Rays and Kalinga lancers will promise an action packed opening to the much awaited league. “This will be our second outing in the Hero Hockey India league and leaving behind the bygones, we look forward to the upcoming edition with a fresh perspective. All the strategies are in place and all the players are in their best form.
We expect our opening match of the league against Ranchi Rays to be much favourable for us as we will be playing the match in front of our home crowd and their support. The opponents should look out for Gurjinder Singh for his ability to convert the penalty corners and his inclusion in the team strengthens our defence too. Also his inclusion gives the much required support to Gonzalo Peillat who has to his credit of converting 7 penalty corners in the last edition.”Said Kalinga lancers coach Jude Felix.
lancers Captain Vickram Kanth said, “The whole team is pepped up and looking forward for the match, as it not only is the inaugural match of the league but is also an extremely important one for us, as we look forward to open the league with a win and continue the streak thereafter. We are very excited that Andrew Charter will be holding the fort at the goal post and this makes us feel very confident. Also, it is a new team with some new players and new mindset in the team.”
Nalco Invitational Golf tourney from Jan 23
Bhubaneswar: Over 80 golfers from 15 clubs of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha would vie for honours in the 12th Nalco East Zone Invitational Golf Tournament, beginning here at Bhubaneswar Golf Club (BGC) course from January 23 to 25. The three-day inter-club tournament, the biggest in Odisha, would feature competition in men, women and veterans categories. Participating clubs of this 18-hole stroke-play event include RCGC, Tollygunj GC, Fort Williams Club and Calcutta ladies GC (from Kolkata); Beldih and Golmuri Clubs (from Jamshedpur); Army Regimental Centre (Ramgarh Cantonment, Bihar), Mowbhandar Railway Club (West Bengal), Cokerel GC (Ranchi), Mahanadi GC (Sambalpur), Paradip GC (Paradip), Brahmani GC (Talcher), Rail Golf Club, Konarka GC and host Bhubaneswar Golf Club (BGC). Competition for women and veterans will be held on 23rd January while the main tournament for the individual prizes amongst participants of the various clubs will be held on 24th January. The team competition amongst the clubs will be concluded on 25th January.
Odisha boys emerge Weightlifting champions
Bhubaneswar: Odisha sub-junior boys bagged overall champion title by gathering 490 points in the 10th National Youth, Junior, Sub-Junior Boys and Girls Weightlifting Championship at Jamnagar in Haryana on Wednesday. In the category Maharashtra finished second by scoring 420 points. Promising women lifter of the State Pramila Kirsani bagged gold medal in the 53kg category, she lifted 71kg in snatch, 99kg in clean and jerk and total 170kg. She also received gold medal in snatch and clean and jerk events. Arun Santa grabbed bronze medals in the 56kg men category, he lifted 96kg in snatch, 123kg in clean and jerk and total of 219kg. He also won bronze medals in the snatch and clean and jerk. In the sub-junior boy’s 50kg catagory, Jagadish Nayak lifted 79kg in snatch and Srikant Mallick lifted 98kg in clean and jerk events and won silver and gold medals respectively. Altogether 19 lifters including 10 girls are participating in the meet in which 25 States are fighting for the top honour. International referee Narayan Sahu and coach Cormac Whelan accompanied the State team.
Ranjit to represent Odisha in National Game
Bhubaneswar: Ranjit Naik of KISS has been selected to represent Odisha in Archery for National Games 2015 scheduled to be held at Kerala from 31st January to 14th February. Ranjit is only one from the State representing Odisha in Archery Game. Rajesh Hansdak, Coach of KISS has been appointed as coach of Odisha team for this National Games. Similarly, six players of KISS have placed in Odisha Kho-Kho team for National Games Kerala 2015. The players are Mandakini Majhi, Mamita Jani, Dalimba Majhi, Buji Kadraka, Kalidas Soren, Dhanuram Tudu. Kalandi Charan Rout, Coach of KISS is appointed as coach for Odisha Kho-Kho Team.
Sky win Finance Department league Cricket
Bhubaneswar: Finance Sky emerged champions by defeating Finance Blue by five wickets in the Finance Department Premier league 7-A-Side Tennis Ball here on Wednesday, being organised by Finance Department Cultural Sansada. Rakesh Panda of the Sky team smashed an unbeaten 58 runs and powered the team to beat Blue by nine wickets. Rakesh of the champion team received both man of the final and man of the tournament awards. Brief Score: Finance Blue 76/10 in 9.4 overs (Surya Kanta Sethy 61; Pravakar Maharana 2 wkt) lost to Finance Sky 71/1 in 7.2 overs (Rakesh Panda 58 n.o;) by 9 wickets.
lIC, NHPl win in HoD Cup Cricket
Bhubaneswar: On the inaugural day, lIC and Nilachal Hospital Private limited (NHPl) defeated Joyti Group and TCS by 39 and 88 runs respectively in the 5th HoD Cup Cricket Tournament at Kalinga Stadium here on Wednesday. Prasant Biswal of lIC and Abhinv Gosh of NHPl bagged the man of the match awards in their respective matches. Total 20 teams are participating.
Vineet, Chetan dominate Odisha bowling in Ranji
Bhubaneswar: Vineet Saxena and Chetan Bist of Rajasthan scored unbeaten 87 and 51 runs respectively and the team scored 191 runs by the loss of five wickets in the inaugural day of their four-day long Ranji Trophy match against Odisha at Gandhi Stadium in Balangir on Wednesday. Winning the toss Odisha elected to field first, Rajasthan lost wickets in regular interval and lost top five wickets at the score of 85 runs, but opener Vineet and Chetan stitched unbeaten 106 runs for the sixth wickets.