Dachi stance
The 28th State Karate Championship was hosted at the Utkal Karate School in Bhubaneswar from April 14 to 17. More than 400 karatekas from 22 districts took part in the event where competitions were hosted in the sub-junior, cadet and junior categories for boys and girls in 28 categories of fight and kata rounds for different weight groups. The best performers will be selected for the National Karate Championship to be hosted from May 20 to 22 in New Delhi. Participants from Rourkela and Bhubaneswar took the bulk of the gold medals. Some of the winners who made a mark are Ayush Singh, Bonali Das, Aanshu Priya Sangram Singh, Sriya Kumari, Jyotiranjan Nayak, Swastika Rani Panda, Ritesh Mohanty, Satyam Mohanty, Hrushikesh Mansingh and Shivam Jani.
Straight drive
The Inter-College Cricket Tournament concluded on the Bidanasi Cricket Ground where Ravenshaw University emerged champions. They defeated Christ College by six wickets in the final match. Earlier, Ravenshaw University won against SCB Medical College and Christ College triumphed against Stewart Science College. The Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) hosted this event.
The OCA is also hosting the Inter-District Cricket Tournament along with a club-level tourney. In the Inter-District Cricket Tournament, the quarter-finalists have been identified and will be held from April 20 to 22. The three-day matches will be played simultaneously at different venues. Cuttack A will take on Rourkela at the Barabati Stadium, Bhubaneswar A will lock horns with Balangir on the Nimpur Ground, Cuttack B will play against Jajpur on the Ravenshaw Ground while Balasore is slotted against Sundargarh on the SCB Medical College Ground.
In the club tournament matches that were played on Tuesday, Rising Student Club won against Sunshine Club by 35 runs, Union Sporting won against Mangala Club by five wickets, Biswa Bharati Club defeated Kishor Club by 47 runs while Royal Club won against Juvenile Club by three runs in a closely contested match.
Goals galore
In the last match of the final round of the National Sub-Junior Boys' Football Championship played between Odisha and Meghalaya, the state team maintained its unbeaten streak and drubbed their rival 5-1. Odisha opened its account in the14th minute of the game when Sooraj Malha bulged the ball into the net. Beekay Oram increased the lead to 3-0 by scoring a brace at the 47th and 49th minute. Dula Murmu increased the lead to 4-0 at the 75th minute and Brundaban Munda made it 5-0 in favour of Odisha at the 77th minute. Meghalaya scored the only consolation goal at the 87th minute of the game. Odisha topped the group at 10 points while Goa remained at the second position. Odisha and Goa qualified to the semi-final stage of the Championship. Odisha will play their semi-final match on April 21.
Surf away
Odia girl Manaswini Satapathy bagged the bronze medal in the keenly contested Indian Navy Windsurfing Championship 2016. Around 64 windsurfers took part in the prestigious event. Indian Navy honoured her with a medal for her outstanding contribution towards the promotion of windsurfing. Mahanadi Coalfields Limited sponsored Manaswini.
Moves matter
Odia girl Anwesha Mishra emerged champion in the Under-14 girls’ category at the Asian Youth Chess Championship that was held in Mongolia this week. The Cuttack girl scored eight points out of a maximum nine and remained unbeaten with seven wins and two draws. The Class IX student of St Jospeh's Girls’ High School, Cuttack, won the title with one round to go. Anwesha also emerged a Fide Master with her win. Another Odia girl, Yashita Rou, was ranked ninth in the Under-8 championship at the same event. They are both coached by Rajesh Nayak.
