Checkmate 

Ansuman Samal and Rutumbara Bidhar won the State Under-17 Chess Championship, which concluded in Cuttack on August 29 in the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively. They scored 6.5 points each. Swapnil Priyadarshi and Anwesha Mishra scored six points each and finished second and third respectively in the boys’ category, while Gitashree Biswal and Priyanka Routray finished second and third in the girls’ category with a score of six and 5.5 points respectively. The top two from both events will represent the state in the National Under-17 Chess Championship in Calcutta from September 8 to 17. Around 152 players, including 56 girls, took part in the seven-round tournament.

Tennis champ 

Kabir Hans (in picture) from Odisha won the Boys’ Under-16 singles title in the Championship Series tennis tournament in Indore. He defeated Denim Yadav from the host state 6-0,7-5 in the final held on August 29. This is the second singles title for him in the Boys Under-16 championship series this year. The guidance of Farhan Ali has been a boon for the youngster who has jumped from 500 to 56 in the all-India singles ranking with 25 AITA singles ranking points in 10 months.

Training camp

The 20th Junior National Sepak-Takraw Championship will start from September 9 and with the tournament in mind, the state association will organise a training-cum-selection camp from August 31 to September 7 at the Barabati Stadium’s sepak-takraw complex. The Odisha State Sepak-Takraw Association will host the training camp for both boys and girls. The junior inter-district championship is being held on August 30 and 31 at the same venue and players for the national tournament would be selected from this event and trained in the camp. The national event will be held in Karnataka and Odisha will send both boys' and girls’ teams. The state association is hopeful the mix of new and experienced players would allow the teams to fare well.

Wall climbing

For the first time in Odisha, a state-level wall climbing competition will be held at Utkal Karate School campus in Bhubaneswar on September 24 and 25. The competition is being held for the first time in the state’s history. Last week, a 45-feet wall was inaugurated at the campus of karate school to provide a platform to the state’s wall-climbing enthusiasts. Wall climbing will be a part of the next Olympic Games in Tokyo. According to the organisers, the event will provide a platform to youngsters who are into adventure sports in the state but did not get enough opportunities. This will also boost chances of qualifying for the Olympic Games. The event will be held in different age categories.

Hockey hurrah

Odisha’s Nishan Jyoti Mohanty will officiate the 90th All-India MCC Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey Tournament in Chennai from September 1 to 11. The decision to appoint Mohanty was announced by Hockey India. The tournament is one of the oldest and top hockey tournaments in the country. Nishan, who works for East Coast Railway as office superintendent, will referee the matches. Teams from across the country will take part in the event.

Football round-up

Sunrise Club rode a brace by Raegan to beat Sunshine Club 3-0 in the super league round match of the Football Association of Odisha’s first division league at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on August 29. An Ambika Lakra goal set Sunrise Club on its way before Raegan joined the party by netting a brace in the 29th and 57th minutes. Twenty-six teams are taking part in the league this year.

Two players from the state have been selected to play club football in Mumbai. Sheikh Shahabaz Alam and Arjun Naik have been selected to play for ONGC’s football team in Mumbai from the upcoming session. Rourkela-born Alam has been a mainstay for Cuttack’s Rising Students Club. Arjun, who hails from Cuttack, has been playing for Sunrise Club. The duo will play for ONGC and other tournaments in which the club takes part. Odisha Football Association officials said a leading club snapping up two local players would inspire other youngsters to choose football and boost grassroots football.

In another development, Odisha footballer Shanti Murmu will lead the national Under-16 girls team, which is currently taking part in the AFC Under-16 Women's Championship in Weifang (China) from August 28 to September 5.