Odisha bowlers steal show in Ranji trophy
Bhubaneswar : The host Odisha bowlers dominated the first day of the Ranji Trophy match against Delhi at VSS Stadium in Sambalpur on Friday. Virendra Sehwag the much awaited batsman not only from the Delhi but from the national team harassed the cricket lovers as his bat didn’t do any magic here like that in the international matches. Sehwag had to return pavilion with zero runs to his credit. It may be a glory for the bowlers of Odisha and particularly Suryakant Pradhan who sent Sehwag to pavilion at zero, but cricket lovers don’t take it easy. They didn’t also expect such a weak batting from their star cricketer whom they waited for with all interest. Odisha team led by captain Biplab Samantray won the toss and preferred fielding. From the very beginning, the bowlers of Odisha and Basant Mohanty and Suryakant Pradhan in particular continued to keep their Delhi counterpart on pressure. Unmukt Chand, the Delhi opener, couldn’t stay long in the field. At just three runs, he was caught by Govind Poddar at Suryakant Pradhan’s ball. Similar was the fate of Sehwag who even couldn’t score a single run. Another opener Gautam Gambhir also scored only 32 runs. Biplab Samantray took the catch at Deepak Beheras’s ball. However the 92 run of Mithun Manhas placed Delhi in a comfortable position. Similarly, 71 (not out) from Rajat Bhatia has helped the team immensely. At the end of the first day of the match, Delhi team was batting with 268 runs for six wickets in 90 overs. The VSS stadium, unlike previous Ranji matches, witnessed a vast crowd for presence of Sehwagm Gambhir, Nehra and other star cricketers. The match is organised by the District Athletic Association Sambalpur in collaboration with Odisha Cricket Association. Every precaution for the safety of the players is made by police and senior officers are monitoring the arrangement.
Khurda emerges PYKKA Sports meet champion
Bhubaneswar : Khurda district dominated the meet and emerged champion in the badminton, swimming, table tennis, tennis and basketball events of the two-day-long State PYKKA Women Sports Competition, which concluded at Kalinga Stadium here on Friday. Altogether 256 players were participated in the two-day long State meet. It is a positive growth of implementation of PYKKA scheme in our State as last year less then 100 numbers of players were participated. The moto of the scheme is to spread the sporting environment in the nock and corner of the State. One dissatisfaction marked among the players, though record number of players participated but they had return to their home town without a participation certificate. In the basketball final match, Khurda beat Cuttack by 46-28 points and bagged the title. Earlier in the semifinals, Khurda and Cuttack edged out Bhadrak and Ganjam by 38-12 and 40-9 respectively. Koyal Mishra, Ameek Kiran Batha, Shakti Satabdi Prusty and Ritee Patnaik all of Khurd district finished first to fourth respectively in the Tennis event. Similarly, the Table Tennis title was claimed by Khurda district. Results: Swimming: 100 meter free style; Raunde Tudu (first, 1:15.10 second), Pratyasa Ray (second, 1:15.68), Addyasa Mishra (third, 1:18.47) (all Khurda), 100 meter breast stroke; Anju Paradia (1:34.68), Namita Tudu (1:40.93) (both khurda), Prasanti Bagh (Sambalpur, 1:58.14), 200 meter back stroke; Addyasha Mishra (3:16.85), Jyochhanamayee Pradhan (3:25.22) (both khurda), Mohini Bhoi (Sambalpur, 5:16.84), 100 meter butterfly stroke; Raunde Tudu (Khurda, 1:36.47), Janhavi Sahu (Sambalpur, 1:38.90), Tulsi Kissan (Khordha, 1:46.06), 200 meter freestyle; Singi Hasa (2:46.03), Raunde Tudu (2:53.63)(both Khurda), A Gayatri (Cuttack, 3:32.11), 200 meter breast stroke; Anju Paradia (3:22.10), Mamita Tudu (3:46.90) (both Khurda), Janhavi sahu (Sambalpur, 4:20.71), 100 meter back stroke; Addyasha Mishra (1:30.12), Jyochhanamayee Pradhan (1:32.98)(both khurda), Janhavi sahu (Sambalpur, 1:43.03).
Kishor Club to meet Club-73 in Tamando Cup final
Bhubaneswar : Kishor Club would meet Yazdani Club-73 both of Bhubaneswar in the final of the Tamando Cup Football tournament at Tamando in the city outskirt here on December 8. In the semifinal on Friday, Kishor Club edged out Sports Hostel of Cuttack by 2-0 goals and entered the final. Prasant Nayak draw the first blood in the 12th minute of play. After the lemon breaks, his-mate Antarjyami Nayak nailed the winning goal in the 46th minute. Earlier in the semifinal match on Thursday, Yazdani Club-73 beat RK Academy of Kanapur by 3-1 goals via through penalty strike. The match ended in goalless draw in the stipulated time.
Inter District and State TT tourney begins
Bhubaneswar : In the inaugural-day, Cuttack-A, Bhubaneswar Table Tennis Association, Rourkela Steel Plant and YMCA-(Cuttack) entered the junior boy’s team events semifinal rounds of the Inter District and State Table Tennis Championship at Table Tennis Academy Indoor Hall in Angul on Friday. Total 263 players including 39 girls from across 14 districts and six institutions are participating in the four-day-long meet, being organised by Angul District Athletic Association under the aegis of Odisha State Table Tennis Association (OSTTA) to be concluded on December 9. OSTTA first time in table tennis history organised a State level tournament in its own academy Indoor Hall at Angul. Additional District Magistrate Sushant Kumar Barik inaugurated the tournament as the chief guest in presence of sub-collector Prassana Kumar Das, Angul District Athletic Association secretary Nilamani Rout, OSTTA executive member Nihar Ranjan Mishra and secretary Rabindra Kumar Parida.
FAO announces cash award for Jr footballer
Bhubaneswar : Football Association of Odisha (FAO) felicitated the State junior girls football team at Cuttack on Friday. State team finished runners-up in the National Junior Football Championship for Girls concluded at Cuttack on Thursday. FAO secretary Sanjay Behera gave a cash reward of Rs5000 to each player and official of the State team.
OSSTA announces State team for National meet
Bhubaneswar : Odisha State Sepak Takraw Association (OSSTA) announced the State boys and girls team for the 53th National School Sepak Takraw Championship to be held at Manipur (Imphal) from December 10 to 15. Mamuni Mahahata and Ranjan Kumar Das both of Bhadrak would lead the State girls and boys team respectively. Assistant Director Physical Education and Sports Pravakar Mangraj, general secretary OSSTA Ajay Kumar Nayak and vice-president Satyabrata Ratho wished the State teams. Girls team: Mamuni Mahahata (captain, Bhadrak), Aliva Das (vice-captain), Itishree Samal, Afsara Begum (all Cuttack) , Sonali Parida (Keonjhar), Milirani Biswal (coach), Debasmita Nayak (manager). Boys team: Ranjan Kumar Das (captain), Milan Kumar Sahu (both Bhadrak), Roshan Kumar Mukhi (vice-captain), Jitendra Kumar Parida (both Keonjhar), Smruti ranjan Panda (Puri), Susanta Kumar Sahu (coach), Ram Krishna Behera (manager).
Sushita, Salmi bag bronze in National jr Athletic
Bhubaneswar : Sushita Kisan and Salmis Kispota of Odisha bagged bronze medal each in their respective events in the 29th National Junior Athletic Championship-2013 is going on at Kanteerva Stadium, Bangalore on Friday. Sushita secured bronze medal in Girls 20 Heptathlon event with 3983 points and Salmi Kispota won bronze medal in Girls -16 Discus with 35.41 meter. Odisha team consisting 18 athletes are participating in the meet which will conclude on December 7.