Bhubaneswar: The Nua-O State Volleyball Tournament, orchestrated by the Sports and Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha, reached its thrilling conclusion in Bhubaneswar on Friday, leaving a trail of commendable performances and remarkable victories.
In the men’s category, Balasore emerged victorious, claiming the championship title with a resounding 3-1 triumph over Jajpur in a hard-fought final match. Kendrapara secured the third-place position by clinching a nail-biting 3-2 victory over Puri in the closely contested playoffs.
The winning team, Balasore, was bestowed with a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, while the runners-up, Jajpur, received Rs 1 lakh. Kendrapara and Puri, finishing as 2nd runners-up, were each awarded Rs 50,000 for their commendable efforts on the court.
Pabitra Mohan Giri, a standout player from Balasore, was honored with the title of the Best Player of the Tournament and received a cash prize of Rs 10,000.
Shifting focus to the Women’s category, Khordha exhibited stellar performance, securing the title with an impressive 3-0 victory over Jagatsinghpur in the final clash. Kendrapara secured the third-place position by defeating Mayurbhanj with a scoreline of 3-0.
Khordha, the women’s champions, were awarded a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh for their triumphant campaign, while Jagatsinghpur, the runners-up, received Rs 1 lakh. Kendrapara and Mayurbhanj, finishing in the 3rd and 4th places respectively, were each presented with Rs 50,000 in recognition of their commendable performances.
Shibani Priyadarshini of the Khordha team was named the Best Player of the Tournament, earning her accolades and a cash prize of Rs 10,000. Sushama Nanda, Coach of the Khordha women’s team, commended the Nua-O initiative, expressing optimism that it would contribute to the grassroots development of players and foster the emergence of talented athletes in Odisha’s sporting landscape.