Jharsuguda: 67th Senior State Kabaddi Championship (Men & Women) concluded at Jharsuguda’s Odisha Special Armed Police (OSAP) Ground. The Championship was held from 1st December to 3rd December 2019 and was organised by Jharsuguda District Athletic Association under Odisha Kabaddi Association.
The event was inaugurated by Odisha State Health & Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das, along with Jharsuguda District Collector Saroj Kumar Samal, OSAP 2nd Battalion Commandant Ashish Dubey and Ajay Behera Secretary, Odisha Kabaddi Association who was also present.
While speaking to media, Odisha State Health Minister Naba Kishore Das said “In coming few years Jharsuguda will also be known as a Sports Hub, after the Stadium, Sports Complex with facilities like a Swimming pool will come up for the benefits of sports and athletic aspirants. Even I have played Kabaddi in my college days. Earlier it was played with strength but now it is being played by the use of Techniques.”
A Total of 26 Teams under Men Category, while 20 Teams in Women Category from 23 Districts namely�Cuttack, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bhubaneswar, Khurda, Puri, Balasore, Dhekanal, Sundergarh, Deogarh, Nuapada, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Ganjam, Sonepur, Angul, Gajapati, Bolangir, Bhadarak, Rayagada. along with�Teams from East Coast Railway, Odisha Police, Rourkela Steel Plant, National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), KIITS, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) University had arrived to take part in these three days Kabaddi Championship.
Jharsuguda District Collector Cum Chairman of the District Athletic Association, Saroj Kumar Samal Said that “As if now participants from 24 Districts of the state has arrived with a total of 46 teams in both Men and Women Category and in coming three days, the matches will be played in a very sportive way.”
During these three days of this championship, around a total of 84 matches were held. All the matches were of league cum Knockout matches. In Men’s Category, Odisha Police won the match by defeating Dhenkanal Team by 34-33, whereas in Women Category, East Cost Railway won the match by defeating Kendrapara by 32-17 points.
“In our district, there were hardly any sports enthusiasts for Kabaddi, to promote this sports, we the members of Jharsuguda District Athletic Association thought of organising this state-level Kabaddi matches for both Men and Women in Jharsuguda with an aim that in coming years players of the district would come forward and play, especially the women players. During this championship around 20 teams of women who participated was very encouraging and by their participation, it has boosted the morale for the women players in the districts to opt this Kabaddi as their mainstream sports. “said Jeebananda Mohanty, Vice President, Jharsuguda District Athletic Association
“This was the first time in Jharsuguda that any State level Kabaddi matches were organised and it was the also the first time when the Kabaddi matches were held on Rubber Mat in Jharsuguda. Around 700 participants had participated in all Odisha. Our main aim was to promote Kabaddi in Odisha. Even organising this it has boosted the morale of our local players of the district. After this we have also got an offer to organise East Zone Kabaddi Matches, which is under consideration.” said Tapas Ray Choudhary, Vice President, Odisha Athletic Association and General Secretary of Jharsuguda District Athletic Association.
