OCA U-19 Inter-District Cricket from March 30
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Cricket Association on Saturday announced to conduct the U-19 Inter District Cricket Tournament in a new format at different grounds in Cuttack from March 30 to April 30. The tournament will feature a total of 36 teams. Teams will first play one-day league matches after being divided into six groups. There will be six teams each group. Top four finishers from Group-A, top three from Group-B and top one from Group-C will be eligible to play quarterfinals. The third top team in Group-B will be decided after a match between second top teams of Group B-I and B-II. Similarly the lone quarterfinalist from Group-C will be determined after a match between top teams of Group C-I and C-II. Two-day quarterfinal matches will take place from April 20 to 22. These will be followed by three-day semifinals from April 24 to 26 and the three-day final from April 28 to 30. Group-AI: Cuttack-A, Sundargarh, KIIT, Bhadrak, Khurda, Ganjam. Group-AII: BBSR-A, Jajpur, Bargarh, Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Koraput. Group-BI: Cuttack-B, Rourkela, Sambalpur,Angul, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada. Group-BII: BBSR-B, Puri, Balasore,Jharsuguda, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur. Group-CI: Dhenkanal, Boudh, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Sonepur, Balangir. Group-CII: Paradip, Phulbani, Nabarangpur, Deogarh, Gajapati, Kalahandi.
Sports Hostel win Tata-Utkalika Football
Bhubaneswar: Sports Hostel of Cuttack emerged champion by defeating Kishor Club of Bhubaneswar 2-1 goals in the final of the Tata-Utakalika Invitational Football Tournament, which concluded at Unit-6 High School Ground here on Sunday. Rudra Prasad Pradhan of Hostel drew the first blood in the 42nd minute and adjudged as the man of the final. After the change of sides, his teammate Bhabagrahi Padhiari doubles the lead in the 50th minute. Bibhu Ranjan Champati netted the solitary goal for Kishor Club in the 52nd minute. The champion team received a cash prize of `20,000 and the runner up team took home `15,000. Bikash Padhiari , Izawidin Khan and Simul Marandi of the champion team received man of the tournament, best goalkeeper and half prizes respectively while Jayant Rout of Kishor Club got the best defence prize. Siba Sankar Panda, T Mohan Rao, Shekhawat Khan and Saroj Maharana were conducted the final match as referees. Panchayat and law Minister Arun Sahu gave away the prizes in presence of MlA Bijaya Kumar Mohanty, Angul Sukinda Railways MD Dillip Samnatray, Tata Steel Residential Executive Manikant Nayak. Among others, FAO vice-president Bhakta Ballava Das, Manoranjan Mohanty, Niranjan Patnaik, Priyanath Mishra, corporater Pranab Kishore Swain, Krushna Mohan Rao, BAA secretary SR Parija, UAA president Tapan Mohanty and secretary Dillip Das were present.
State Shootingball Assn election held
Bhubaneswar: The general election of Odisha Shootingball Association has been held in the annual general body meeting at Puri on Sunday.
The newly elected office bearers will continue for the period of four years. All the office bearers were elected unanimously in presence of returning officer Siba Prasad Das. Subhasish Khuntia and Krushna Chandra Panda elected as president and working president respectively while Satendra Nath Das as secretary. Elected Office bearers: Subhasish Khuntia (president), Krushna Chandra Panda (working president), Satendra Nath Das (secretary), Jayadev Mohanty, Partha Sarathi Mohapatra, Girish Bej, Upendra Nath Das, Ramakanta Pattanaik, Babuli Swain (all vice-president), Sushanata Maharana, Rashmi Ranjan Dash (both joint-secretary), Satikanta Pattanaik (treasurer), Purna Chandra Dash, Rajkishore Pradhan, Jitendra Nath Das, Abhijit Mohanty, Partha Das (executive members)
J’khand to meet WB in East Zone Hockey final
Bhubaneswar: Jharkhand Accountant General (AG) will take on defending champion West Bengal AG in the final of the IA and AD East Zone Hockey Tournament at Kalinga Stadium Hockey Complex here on Monday. In the semifinal on Sunday, Jharkhand edged out host Odiaha by 5-3 vie through tie breaker. The mail biting match ended in 3-3 goals draw in the stipulated time. Odisha got the lead in the early 10th minute through a goal by Verendra Yadav, but Abhisek Singh f Jharkhand netted the equalizer in the 12th minute. Saroj Toppo and Pratap Nayak of Odisha scored a goal each in the 31st and 34th minutes respectively and sealed the first half in 3-1 lead, However Jharkhand never gave away the match, after the change of sides, Jharkhand changed the gear and keeps attacking Xavier Gidh and Abhisek Singh netted a goal each in the 55th and 60th minute and leveled the final score at 3-3. Principal Accountant general MS Devika inaugurated the meet in presence of Accountant general Reema Prakash.
Thai Boxing training camp concludes
Brahmapur: Kamadhenu Seva Samiti (KSS) and Center for Associated Progress (CAP), a socio-cultural organization, jointly organized a two-day-long State level training camp on Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) techniques and official workshop under the auspicious of Odisha Muaythai Union which was recognized by Odisha Olympic Association on March 12 to 13. KSS is operating its activities from Kalyanpur in Ganjam district. The participants were imparted training on state of the art techniques and technical-know-how used in Thai boxing. A colorful closing ceremony cum valedictory function was held on Gopalpur Sea beach today afternoon. Speakers stressed the need of popularizing Thai Boxing among the enthusiastic youths and local students having talent in sports. They also hailed the efforts of the organizers for organizing such training camps through which the life style of the local youths, students, and sports persons can be changed besides providing them a mechanism to earn their livelihood. Tuna Maharana and Gyan Ranjan Mohanty organized the event.
Mohanty knock propels BSNl to E-league final
Bhubaneswar: A workman-like knock of 81 by Ramachandra Mohanty enabled Bharat Sanchar Nigam limited (BSNl) beat Odisha Greens 30 runs in the second semifinal of the 3rd E-league Cricket Tournament (Elite Series) here at IMMT Ground on Sunday. BSNl will meet Odisha Blues in the final next weekend. Put into bat, BSNl were in dire straits, losing five wickets for 48 runs. But Mohanty’s 116-ball sensible knock helped them post a competitive total of 191. Mohanty steadied the innings, stitching together 79 runs in the sixth-wicket stand with former Odisha stumper Priyabrata Pradhan, who contributed 26 runs. BSNl captain BBCC Mohapatra further bolstered the innings with a cameo 25 off 12 balls. Santosh Hota was most successful bowler for Odisha Greens, bagging four wickets for 49 runs. Chasing 192 for victory, Odisha Greens were well-placed at one stage, making 130 for four, thanks to an 82-run stand for the fourth wicket between Kartik Biswal and Subrat Samal. But after Tukuna Sahu broke the partnership, having Samal stumped by Priyabrata Pradhan, Odisha Greens lost the momentum and were restricted to 161 for nine. Allrounder Biswal, who earlier scalped three wickets, also shone with the bat, hitting an 81-ball 64. Sudeepta Swain was the highest wicket-taker for BSNl with figures of four for 29. Ramachandra Mohanty was adjudged the man of the match for his impressive batting effort. Brief score: BSNl 191/10 in 39.3 overs (Ramachandra Mohanty 81, Priyabrata Pradhan 26, BBCC Mohapatra 25; Santosh Hota 4/49, Kartik Biswal 3/16, Hitesh Nayak 2/32) beat Odisha Greens 161/9 in 40 overs (Kartik Biswal 64, Subrat Samal 30, Sudeepta Swain 4/29, BBCC Mohapatra 3/22, Tukuna Sahu 2/36) by 30 runs. MoM: Ramachandra Mohanty.