Minister announces cash award for Srabani
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Sports Minister Sudam Marqandi announced cash award of Rs3 lakh each for Srabani Nanda and Purnima Hembram as both bagged bronze medals each in the women 200 meter race and woman heptathlon events respectively in the 21st Asian Athletics Championship held in Wuhan, China, between June 3 to7. Most shocking thing is that, earlier the department declared that the State Government would pay double amount for the players in comparison to National policy. On Monday the Sports Ministry announced Purnima (heptathlon), Sarbani Nanda (200m) earned bronze medals for which they will get Rs2.5 lakh each.
Bikash gets rousing welcome
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Soft Tennis Association (OSTA) President Bikash Patnaik got a rousing welcome here on Tuesday from his arrival from Poland. He was accompanied the National team as manager. The national team participated in the 9th international Open Softball Tennis Championship held from June 4 to 8. OSTA secretary Md Azam , Krushna Chandra panda, vice-president Jitendra Nath Patnaik, Manoranjan Mohanty and many players were greeted Bikash on his arrival.
Nalinikanta memorial FIDE rating chess begins
Bhubaneswar: Kendrapada District Chess Association is hosting the Nalinikanta Mohanty memorial FIDE rating State Women Chess Tournament at DS law College in Kendrapada from Jun 9 to 11.
After a long struggle of Bhabesh Mohanty, Secretary, Kendrapara District Chess Association to convert Odisha State Women selection a FIDE Rating tournament (1st time in Odisha Chess history) with a entry fee of RS 100 only, a successful one. Altogether 23 players from five districts are participating in the tournament and Smaraki Mohanty was the top seed and WFM Rutumbara Bidhar is only rated player participating.
The expectance of total strength was minimum of 50. Unfortunately, the actual participant is now only 23 players. The causes are many. Recently a mega chess event was held at KIIT of three categories with 740 participants. State U-11 (188 participants) ended on June 7. Few players have started their journey for National U-9, at Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
All Odisha Chess Association executive member Subhasis Patnaik inaugurated the meet as chief guest. Among others, social worker Rakesh Mohanty, DS law College Principal Debendra Kumar Mishra, Kendrapara District Chess Association chief advisor Hadibandhu Singh and Smruti Ranjan Nayak were present.