Straight drive
The Kalahandi Cup Senior Inter-district Cricket Tournament organised by Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) has reached its semi-final stage this week. The three-day quarterfinal matches were played at different venues in Cuttack. In the match at Nimpur Ground, East Coast Railways managed to score 264 in the first innings and in reply Bhubaneswar-B put up 265 on the board at the loss of nine wickets. Though the match was drawn, by virtue of the first innings lead, Bhubaneswar-B qualified to the semi-final.
In the Bidanasi Ground, Cuttack-A declared after scoring 407 for 8 in the first innings. Biplab Samantray scored a massive 203, while Boudh were bundled out for 88. In the 2nd innings, Cuttack-A scored 196 for 1 and owing to their first innings lead, Cuttack A qualified to the semi finals.
In the quarter final match at Bose ground, Bhubaneswar A won against Cuttack B by two wickets and made it to the semi-final, while Rourkela BBSR B at Driems Ground.
The state cricket association has also announced the Inter-school Cricket Tournament among 10 OCA affiliated schools that will begin from April 6.
The Inter-district Women’s One Day International Knock Out Tournament will begin from April 23, said an OCA official.
Tennis tourney
In the All India Tennis Association (AITA) Championship Series Tournament hosted by Odisha Tennis Association (OTA) under way at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, city boy Kabir Hans stunned third seed Kaushal Yedla from Andhra Pradesh on the opening day of the U-18 category.
Goals galore
In the Bhagyadhar Trophy Football Tournament hosted at Indira Gandhi Ground in Bhubaneswar, Kishore Club scored three goals against Yazdani Club 73 to emerge winners. In the Naranpur Football Tournament held in Cuttack, Nagabali beat Belgharia 5-3 in a tie-breaker to lift the cup.
Long serve
The fourth secretariat all Odisha employees open and first all Odisha open veteran badminton tournament will be hosted in Bhubaneswar from April 2 to 3. The tournament will be hosted by Odisha State Secretariat Badminton Association. State and all central government employees are eligible to take part in the two-day tournamnet .
Checkmate
In the 6th BBSR All India Fide Rating Chess Championship 2016 hosted at Hotel Empires in Bhubaneswar, three players scored seven points each after eight rounds. Jyoti Ranjan Padhi of Odisha became the champion according to Bucculoz system. He pocketed a cash prize of Rs 20,000. Binu Sebastian of Tamil Nadu became first runner-up and Sai Raj Gopal K. of Andhra Pradesh became the second runner-up and both pocketed cash prize of Rs 15,000 and Rs 12,000 respectively. Subhasis Patnaik, secretary of Khurda District Chess Association, and Saroj Kishore Behera, joint secretary of the association were present at the prize ceremony.
In the All India Fide Rating Chess Tournament hosted at JN Stadium in Cuttack, Jayachandra Vellanki of Tamil Nadu won the title. Ranjith Kaliyarasan of Pondicherry and Samir Kumar Saha of Bengal emerged second and third. Around 400 players from across the country took part in the event.
In the 11th All Odisha Chess Championship hosted at the Secretariat Recreation Club in Bhubaneswar, Kumar Ashok emerged champion.
