Batsmen bloom
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) regained the 3rd edition of E-League Cricket Tournament by defeating Odisha Blues by six runs in a hard-fought final held at the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT) Ground in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. BSNL had emerged champions in the inaugural edition in 2013-14 and were runner-up in 2014-15. Electing to bat first, BSNL rode on a half-century each by opener Ramachandra Mohanty and captain B.B.C.C. Mohapatra to compile a healthy total of 223. In reply, Odisha Blues suffered an early setback as their star all-rounder P. Jayachandra was castled by Ramachandra Mohanty. Thanks to a 75-run stand for the third wicket between opener Payas Ranjan Sinha and captain Bibhudutta Panda, the Blues made some comeback. Sinha hit a 71-ball 56 before he was dismissed by Tukuna Sahu. The match turned in favour of BSNL after Panda, who slammed a 60-ball 77 with the help of three fours and five sixes, was brilliantly caught at long on by Bikash Pati off the bowling of Niranjan Behera. Odisha Blues were eventually restricted to 217 for seven.
Champions BSNL received the glittering trophy and a cash prize of Rs 25,000, while runner-up Odisha Blues were given Rs 15,000. Ramachandra Mohanty and B.B.C.C. Mohapatra were declared man of the final and man of the tournament respectively. The prizes for best batsman, best bowler and best wicketkeeper were pocketed by Bibhudutta Panda (Odisha Blues), Rajesh Mohanty (Odisha Greens) and Subrajeet Behera (TCS). IMMT chief scientist S.K. Singh, TCS delivery head Kishore Swain and former Odisha cricketer Bikram Mohanty handed over the various prizes at the closing ceremony.
Chess tourney
The 6th Bhubaneswar FIDE All-India Rating Chess Championship commenced in Bhubaneswar on Monday. Organised by the Khurda District Chess Association, the championship will have eight rounds with a prize money of Rs 2 lakh. The total number of participants is 276 from 12 states which includes 86 Odia players.
Arm-wrestling
In the 37th State Arm-wrestling Championship hosted at the Kalinga Gymnasium in Cuttack, Pramod Mukhi emerged the overall champion. Around 200 arm-wrestlers took part in the meet. The winners will represent Odisha at the nationals in Nagpur.
Karate fever
A team of eight karate players from Bhubaneswar-based Utkal Karate School are taking part in the World Shukokai Karate Championship, seminar and coaching camp in Japan from March 20 to 29.
Dribble & score
The final match of the Inter-district Club Championship (Kalinga Cup Qualifying Round) was played between Bir Singh Club (Jharsuguda) and Maa Bhuasini Club (Cuttack). Maa Bhuasini Club won the match by 1-0. Karfula Lakra scored for Maa Bhuasini Club in the 23rd minute. Apart from Maa Bhuasini Club and Bir Singh Club, Gandhi Club of Sundargarh and Unit-VI Athletic Association of Bhubaneswar qualified for the final round of the upcoming All India Kalinga Cup Football Tournament since these teams made it to the semi-finals of the championship. The Sundargarh District Athletic Association hosted the event.
The All India Football Federation has selected two Under-14 (boys’) football players of the state for the preparatory selection trial camp of National Under-14 football team. The two selected players are Beekay Oram and Srikanta Bhoi from Balangir Sports Hostel. They were selected from the Odisha sub-junior football team which took part in the Sub-Junior National Football Championship for the east zone qualifying round which was held in Cuttack.
