School footballers shine in offbeat contests
Bhubaneswar: Organising a tournament for school students is not only a nice way but also a noble way to promote sports at grassroots level. And adding side shows is a good idea to make such tournament more attractive and enjoyable. leading local football club Unit-VI Athletic Association made the silver jubilee edition of Kalinga Marine Bibekananda Memorial Inter-School Football Tournament all the more memorable by introducing long-kick and target-shooting competitions as two more novel items hear at Unit-VI Govt Boys’ High School ground here on Sunday.
Followed by penalty shooting and Fifa World Cup quiz competitions, these events brought to the fore many promising talents and their refreshing skills. Among 70 boys, who represented 14 schools in these contests, laxmidhar Murmu of Ramakrushna Sikhya Kendra won the long-kick competition, sending the ball to a distance of 55 metres. “I have been practising long kicks, putting on iron shoes. That helped me strengthen my legs and win this contest,’’ revealed laxmidhar. Sanjib Soren of Kalinga Vidyapitha and Rohan Panda of St Xavier’s High School (Kedargouri) finished second and third with efforts of 50 and 46 metres respectively. In the target shooting contest, which featured two smaller goalposts, players were required to score from a distance of a 15 metres, kicking the ball over the first post (width two metre, height one metre), which was placed 10 metre in front of the kicking spot and into the second post (4x2 meter), placed five metre ahead of the first. St Xavier\\’s High School, Kedargouri, emerged champion in this contest, defeating Sri Aurobinda Institute of Integral Education in the final by 2-1 goals.
State Sports Department\\’s former Assistant Director of Ashok Mohanty, Football Association of Odisha vice-president Bhakta Ballav Das, Khurda District Sports Officer lalit Mohanty, Unit-VI Athletic Association vice-president Akshya Kumar Das and Bhubaneswar Athletic Association joint-secretary Naba Ranjan Patnaik handed over the trophies at presentation ceremony. Kalinga Marine Director Babi Mishra, UAA vice-president Prafulla Kumar Mishra and secretary Dilip Das were present on the occasion.
The inter-school tournament will resume with former champions Sainik School meeting Vikash Residential School and Kendriya Vidyalaya No 2 taking on BJEM School in the last two pre-quarterfinal matches on Monday.
Self-defence expert’s seminar conducted
Bhubaneswar: Sensai Hari Prasad Pattanaik conducted self-defence expert’s training and seminar at Utkal Karate School (UKS) here on Sunday. The practice of self-defence is essential which makes you perfect. The regular practices of martial art and the self-defence altogether a different form of art, said Patnaik. Altogether 28 karatekas from different district were participated in the program. Khareval Swain, Mahesh Chandra Baral, Debabrata Samadar, Jayadev Patnaik, Rajib Kumar Singh, Ganesh Chandra Behera, Soumaya Ranjan Das, Chinmay Behera, Hemant Barik, SC Jal, Gopal Das, Sandeep Mohanty, Munashing Jal, Dilip Jena, Bikash Digal, Anupama Swain, Manisha Padhi, Priyadarshini Bhutiari, Dipak Samataray, Umakanta Behera, Junes Digal, Debasis Kabi, Arabinda Patnaik, Rajani Besi, Binit Das, Suvendu lenka, Satyashree Jena and Gouri Mohanty were participated.
AIFF grossroot’s football development in 5 dists
Bhubaneswar: Football Association of Odisha conducted a meeting at Cuttack in regard to implement grassroots’ football development program of AIFF. FOA in association with AIFF will organise grassroot developmental program for 6-12 years players in five districts in near future.
Grassroots’ development program AIFF manager Suvrat Thatte gave a presentation regarding the development of football at grassroot’s level in our country. Thatte said that the AIFF has decided to implement grassroot football development program in Odisha. He also stated that by implementing the AIFF grassroot program the State will benefit in developing football in future. OCA and OOA secretary Asirbad Behera opined that this program will be implemented in our state as soon as possible. FAO secretary Sanjay Behera, vice-president Bijoy Das, Tadit Kumar Rout, Dillip Kumar Sahoo, Rabi Panda and joint secretary Avijit Paul were present. Grassroot’s development committee members Dr. SR Parija, Narendra Kumar Sahoo, Amarendra Singh, Gopal Das, Sk Salluddin, Akhsya Das (AFC “B” license coach and AIFF “D” license coach Instructor was also present. Rabindra Kumar Parida (member “T & T” committee – FAO), Anup Kumar Patra and Dhiren Pallei (council member of FAO ) were also present.
KIIT, Ekamra match draw in Gati Krushna Football
Bhubaneswar: The group-C league match between KIIT University and Ekamra Sporting ended in 1-1 goal draw in the 11th Gati Krushna Memorial Div-B Football league at Unit-1 High School Play Ground here on Sunday. KIIT got the lead through the goal by Chaturananda Marandi by 12th minute. In the 18th minute Rakesh Jena scored the equaliser. Sekhawat Khan, Sushanta Kumar Mishra, Sudipta Dash and Pradeep Kumar Naik were conducted the match as referees. In the group-D league match, Bir Birsa would meet MS Eleven on Monday.