Rourkela, : The 2nd Memorial Football Tournament in memory of former football player Tulasi Mahato was successfully held at Nayabazar Padia in Sector-21. The event was organized under the direct supervision of social worker Bandita Mahato, with 12 teams participating in the tournament.
In the men’s division, Bengal Tigers defeated Pandav FC to win the champion’s trophy along with a cash prize of Rs3,000, while Pandav FC received the runners-up trophy and Rs2,000.
Similarly, in the women’s football competition, RBFC defeated Fighter Club to win the championship trophy and a cash prize of Rs3,000, while Fighter Club was awarded the runners-up trophy and Rs2,000.
Senior BJP leader Suryakant Mahanti attended the event as chief guest and presented the prizes. Other guests included social workers Gracy David, Dipti Sundaray, Kartik Raut, Garima Patri, Shashilata, Gauri Kumbhar, Rahul Mahanti, Narendra Singh Kolla, and Sumati Nayak.
It is worth noting that the late Tulasi Mahato was Bandita’s father. He was a football player who played a key role in organizing football tournaments in rural areas, encouraging local talent and fostering community sports.
The tournament drew a crowd of hundreds of people from nearby areas. Finally, Bandita Mahato extended her thanks to all attendees and participants.