Bhubaneswar: The Nua-O State Kabaddi Tournament, organized by the Sports and Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha, reached its thrilling culmination in Cuttack on Sunday. The tournament witnessed intense competition in both the men’s and women’s categories, with Cuttack emerging as the champions in the men’s division, while Khordha claimed victory in the women’s division.
In a fiercely contested final match in the men’s category, Cuttack secured the championship by defeating Puri. The tournament’s third and fourth positions were claimed by Dhenkanal and Balasore, respectively. The standout player of the tournament in the men’s category, Karunakar Behera of Cuttack, was honored with the ‘Outstanding Player of the Tournament’ award for his stellar performances.
The women’s category saw Khordha emerging triumphant by defeating Ganjam in a closely fought final. Sundargarh secured the third-place position, while Jajpur finished in fourth place. Jyoti Daleh of Khordha received the ‘Outstanding Player of the Tournament’ award for her exceptional contributions to her team’s success.
Both champion teams, Cuttack and Khordha, were awarded a cash prize of Rs 2 lakhs each. The runners-up in both categories received Rs 1 lakh, while the teams finishing in third and fourth place were granted Rs 50,000 each. The ‘Outstanding Player’ recipients were presented with an additional cash prize of Rs 10,000.
The conclusion of the Nua-O State Kabaddi Tournament marked the end of the successful sports initiative, encompassing six disciplines, including volleyball, cricket, kabaddi, hockey, football, and kho-kho. The tournament provided a platform for athletes to showcase their skills and foster a spirit of healthy competition.