Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 13: Cuttack Sports Hostel (CSH) emerged champions of the Tata Utkalika Cup football tournament after edging out Kishore Club 2-1 in the final at the Unit-VI HS Ground here Sunday.
CSH started aggressively from the start and Rudra Prasad Pradhan opened the account for them in the 32nd minute. Kishore players tried their best to restore parity, but CSH defenders fought resolutely to prevent few scoring opportunities of the opposition. CSH maintained their solitary lead during the first half.
The second half saw the game of soccer at its best. Both the teams fought hard. However CSH were more opportunistic as they doubled their lead in the50th minute through Bhabagrahi Padhihari. Bibhu Ranjan Champati got one back for Kishore after just two minutes. After that they tried their best till the end, but could not find the equaliser.
Panchayatiraj and Law Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo joined as the chief guest in the presentation ceremony and distributed the prizes. The champion CSH team bagged a cash prize of `20,000 along with a glittering trophy. Kishore Club took home `15,000 along with the runners-up trophy.