Nabarangpur, 22nd Sept 2025: The Dussehra Cup Football Tournament has been inaugurated at the local college football ground under the banner of Jwarangpur Town Football Academy.
The event was inaugurated in the presence of Nabarangpur MLA Gauri Shankar Majhi as the chief guest. Other dignitaries included:
Prahallad Tripathy, Secretary of the District Sports Association
M. Balakrishna Rao, Vice President of the District Sports Association
Manoj Kumar Pattnayak, Joint Secretary
Rakesh Gupta, former football player
They all attended and motivated the players during the opening ceremony.
Exciting Opening Match: Umeri Team Beats Gladiator FC
In a thrilling opening match, the Umeri team from Koraput district defeated the Gladiator FC team from Nabarangpur district by 2–0 goals, advancing to the next round of the tournament.
16 Teams Participating from Undivided Koraput District
A total of 16 teams from across the undivided Koraput district are participating in this tournament.
The event has been organised by Ashok Patra, who aims to discover hidden football talent in the region. His unique initiative has received praise and support from many former sports personalities of the district.
Historic Involvement of Female Referees
The match was officiated by:
Lalu Harijan as the main referee
Chandan Garada and Bijay Nayak as line referees
For the first time, female referees — Raila Bhatra and Arati Harijan — assisted in managing the match, marking a milestone in the tournament’s history.
Large Crowd of Spectators
The match drew a huge number of spectators from nearby areas, reflecting the local enthusiasm for football and the growing excitement around the tournament.
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