The 11th Edition of the Odisha Cup 2024 Concludes in Grand Style
By A.K. Sahu
Dubai/ Bhubaneswar, Jan. 24: The Odisha Cup Sports Association of UAE is thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of the 11th edition of the world’s largest indigenous Odisha cricket tournament, the “Odisha Cup.” This milestone event, held on January 19, 2025, at the Seven Estates Grounds in Ajman, will be remembered as a historic achievement.
This year’s tournament saw an impressive participation of 18 teams from across all emirates, marking the largest edition since its inception in 2014. The competition kicked off on September 29, 2024, and reached its thrilling finale with a spectacular match between Kalinga Warriors and SAM-11 Ajman-Odisha.
In an exciting final, SAM-11 Ajman-Odisha set a target of 153 runs in 20 overs, thanks to an outstanding performance by Imran Khan, who scored 75 runs off 34 balls. In response, Kalinga Warriors were bowled out for just 87 runs in 17.1 overs, with key wickets taken by Nehal Akhtar, Abdul Ahad, and Imran Khan. Imran Khan’s stellar all-round performance earned him both the Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards.
The final match was played before an enthusiastic crowd, primarily consisting of the Odia community, who brought their families to enjoy the event. The occasion was further enhanced with a variety of authentic snacks and meals, creating a memorable experience for both players and spectators.
The event was graced by Ms. Suryamayee Mohapatra, a celebrated Odia actress known for her impressive performances in Odia films. With her captivating presence, she expressed her excitement at being part of such an important event outside India.
Mr. Pabitra Kumar Mazumdar, Indian Consul (Consular, Labor and Aid) in the UAE, attended as a special guest and praised the participants and organizers, predicting continued success for the Odisha Cup in the years to come.
Mr. Sailaj Das, Advisor to Odisha Cup and Managing Director of Turbo Power Engineering, the tournament’s title sponsor, recognized the commitment of both the players and organizers and expressed his joy at witnessing such a large turnout.
Mr. Priyadarshi Panigarahi, Odisha Cup Advisor and Senior Business Management Expert, lauded the event as the largest private gathering of migrant Odias in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Capt. Soumya Patnaik, Odisha Cup Advisor, CEO, and Managing Director of Panbulk Shipping DMCC, congratulated the entire community and the Odisha Cup Sports Association for its ongoing success over the years.
A special thank you was extended to the senior organizers of the event, including Rajat Rath, Sushant Jena, Nirlipta Mohanty, Sambhram Patnaik, Pradyumna Sahoo, and core staff members Chinmay Kumar Jena, Abnikant Patro, Dev Mishra, Sujit Khatua, Amriten Chatterjee, Syed Afan Mustafa, Syed Taswar Alli, Bikas Agarwal, Ashish Kumar, Jyoti Ranjan Panda, and Imdad Mohammed, for their hard work and dedication in ensuring the event’s success.
The Odisha Cup organizers would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to all the participants, sponsors, and supporters who made this event a resounding success in the UAE.
