CRRI men, Khurda women State kabaddi champions

Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) men and Khurda women lifted trophies in the 57th (?) State Kabaddi Championship, which concluded at Gajalaxmi Ground (Unit-9) in Bhubaneswar tonight. CRRI, in fact, retained the men’s title, defeating Orissa Police 14-11 in the final. In the women’s final, Khurda dethroned defending champions Cuttack 13-11, via tie-breaker. Tie-break rule came into force as both the teams tied at six points each after the end of the regulation time. According to the new rule, each team was given five raiding opportunity in the tie-breaker, where Khurda scored seven points against five by Cuttack. Earlier in the men’s semifinals, CRRI beat Cuttack 15-5, while Orissa Police got the better of Jajpur 10-6. In the women’s last-four round, Cuttack outplayed Dhenkanal 24-8, while Khurda thrashed Rourkela 25-15. New Sports Minister Praveen Chandra Bhanjadeo handed over the trophies at the closing function. International Bhima Barada (Orissa Police) and Sanjukta Rout (Railways) were felicitated on the occasion. Twin City Police Commissioner Bijay Kumar Sharma, Korei MLA Priti Ranjan Ghadei, sponsors Ruchi Group Executive Director Sradhanand Jena, Orissa Kabaddi Association secretary Ajay Kumar Behera, host Young Sporting Club president Dr Jagannath Mohapatra and secretary Dilip Mohanty were present at the closing function. Kabaddi, the indigenous sport, received a major boost in Orissa thanks to the stylish conduct the state championship, which drew sizeable crowds for all three days and the liberal media coverage. Photo captions: Top: Men’s champion CRRI team receives the trophy at the State Kabaddi Championship in Bhubaneswar on May 30, 2009. Bottom: Women’s champion Khurda team receives the trophy at the State Kabaddi Championship in Bhubaneswar on May 30, 2009.