7th IPl to be controversy free: Ranjib Biswal
Bhubaneswar: My first and foremost duty is to make the 7th edition of Indian Premier league (IPl) free from all controversy, said newly appointed IPl Chairman Ranjib Biswal on his arrival here in the City. Though I got the charge recently, my team will create roadmaps to save the gentleman’s sports from match fixing, spot fixing and other fragility. To do such tax a combine team effort is required, added Biswal. I sincerely thanks BCCI, my parent body Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) and the cricket lovers of my country. In my new responsibility I will look into all aspects for the development of cricket. Regarding Odisha players as the performances speaks the volume, in present context the players who are playing good cricket always have the opportunity in the national team. As in our State we are not having any franchise owner. But I will talk to the nearby State franchise to adopt the Barabati Stadium as their catch-mate area. I am confident that few IPl matches will be at Barabati Stadium, further added Biswal.
Big Durga Puja gift for OCA: Asirbad Behera
Bhubaneswar: For the first time nine of Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) members got responsibility in the different committees of the BCCI including IPl chairman post in the recently concluded BCCI annual General body meeting, which is a great Dasahara gift for the State association as well as for the cricket lovers of the State, said OCA secretary Asirbad Behera on his arrival here on Monday. Odisha Cricket Association president Ranjib Biswal’s promotion in the BCCI ladder was opposed by Bengal officials. It was learnt that Biswal was lined up for the treasurer’s post but the opposition meant that it went to Anirudh Chaudhary of Haryana. But the opposition came back to haunt Bengal when Biswal was elevated to the high-profile post of IPl chairman, informed Behera. Biswal, a former off-spinning all-rounder for the State, figured in 41 first class matches, scoring 2170 runs at 40.18 and picking up 153 wickets at 23.83. As we got the IPl chairman in our State this time we will request him to take steps to arrange some IPl matches at Barabti Stadium, said Behera.
Balasore, Cuttack win in Inter-Dist Club Football
Bhubaneswar: Birla Tyres of Balasore and Cuttack Sports Hostel defeated Mahaveer Youth Club and Gandhi Club Sundargarh respectively in the Inter-District Club Football Tournament at Baripada in Mayurbhanja on Monday. Salkhu Hembram of Birla Tyres scored double goals in the fourth and 21st minute and team beat Mahaveer by 2-1 goals. Dasrathi Kanhar of the losiing team scored agoal in the 68th minute. In another match, a double goal haul by Subash Pradhan of Cuttack powered the team to beat Gandhi Club by 3-0 goals. Subash scored goals in the ninth and 15th minute and his-mate Bikash Chandra Padhiari netted the final goal in the 25th minute. Sudip Das, Bhanu Bouri, Sujit Patra, Manik Rana, PK Pal,Nabin Nayak, Kailash Chandra Behera and Jugal Chandra Padhiari (match commissioner) were the officials who conducted the matches as referees.
Cuttack barge into Inter-Dist Women Football final
Bhubaneswar: Cuttack barged into final by defeating star-studded Bhubaneswar-A team in the semifinal by 1-0 goal in the Senior Women Inter District Football Championship-2013 for PC Behera Trophy at Titilagarh in Bolangir on Monday. After the barren first-half, Sasmita Ekka of the Cuttack team scored the all important goal in the 45th minute and team entered the final bout to be held on October 2. Rain disturbed another semifinal match between Sundargarh and Bhubaneswar-B and postponed to Tuesday. The officials who conducted the match were Ratnakar Barik, Bishnupriya Das, N Swamy Naidu and Sudipta Das as referees.
Seeds tumble out in the AITA Men’s Ranking Tennis
Bhubaneswar: It was a day of upsets as two seeded players tumbled out of the men’s singles event of the AITA Men’s Ranking Tennis Championship at the SOA University sports complex here on Monday. While second seed Mohammed Azhar of Bengal was blanked 6-0, 6-0 by Abhinansu Borthakur (Assam) in a first round match, eighth seed Rohit Rampuria (also Bengal) was defeated by Karnataka’s SD Prajwal Dev 6-2, 6-2. Borthakur, ranked 117, had no problem in disposing off Azhar who had a much higher ranking (59). However, third seed V.Naidu beat S.Srinivasa Darshan 7-6, 6-1 in an all-Karnataka affair. In the other first round matches played during the day before heavy rains affected the schedule, Vishnu Jinan (Karnataka) beat Avilash Mishra (Odisha) 6-2, 6-4 and Neeraj Choudhury (MP) ousted Prateek Pushkar Baxi (Chhatisgarh) 7-6, 4-6, 6-2. Odisha’s Chinmay Pradhan is the top seeded player in the men’s singles event. Results (First Round): Vishnu Jinan (Kar) bt Avilash Mishra (Od) 6-2, 6-4, S.D.Prajwal Dev (Kar) bt Rohit Rampuria (Ben, 8) 6-2, 6-2, Neeraj Choudhary (MP) bt Prateek Pushkar Baxi (Chg) 7-6, 4-6, 6-2, V.Naidu (Kar, 3) bt S.Srinivasa Darshan (Kar) 7-6, 6-1, Abhinansu Borthakur (Asm) bt Mohammed Azhar (Ben) 6-0, 6-0 .