Dubai concludes world’s largest Prabasi Odia cricket tournament

Odisha Cup 24 Sets Record with Largest Prabsi Odia Cricket Tournament in UAE

Dubai: The Odisha Cup Sports Association of UAE recently hosted Odisha Cup 24, the World’s Largest Prabsi Odia Cricket Tournament, with the final match taking place on January 19 at Seven Estates Grounds in Ajman, UAE.

This year’s tournament was the largest since its inception in 2014, with an unprecedented 18 teams participating from all seven Emirates of the UAE. Kicking off on September 29, 2024, the tournament reached its thrilling conclusion with a final showdown between the Kalinga Warriors and SAM-11 Ajman-Odisha.

SAM-11 Ajman-Odisha set a challenging target of 153 runs in 20 overs, largely thanks to Imran Khan’s stellar knock of 75 runs from 34 balls. With important assistance from bowlers Nehal Akhtar, Abdul Ahad, and Imran Khan, the Kalinga Warriors were dismissed for just 87 runs in 17.1 overs despite a valiant attempt. Khan’s exceptional bowling and batting skills earned him the awards of Man of the Series and Man of the Match.

A new attendance record was reached for the last match as more than 700 spectators, primarily from the Odia community, attended with their families. The visitors were ecstatic when traditional Odia cuisine was provided, which further enhanced the celebration’s worth.

At the occasion, prominent Odia actress Suryamayee Mohapatra, who is well-known for her roles in Odia television and films, said she was proud to be a part of such a large Odia diaspora gathering.

Consul Pabitra Kumar Majumder, the event’s Special Guest, commended the tournament’s scope and expressed admiration for the wonderful vibes emanating from it.
He appreciated the vibrant atmosphere and the participation of the Odia community.

Sailaj Das, the advisor for Odisha Cup and Managing Director of Turbo Power Engineering, the tournament’s title sponsor, lauded the dedication of the players and the organizing team. He acknowledged the event’s success and was happy to see such a strong crowd.

Priyadarshee Panigarahi, a senior business management expert and advisor for the Odisha Cup, called the event the biggest private assembly of Odias in the Middle East and North Africa. He praised the Odisha Cup for helping Odias in the UAE feel more united and friendly.

Another Odisha Cup advisor and CEO and Managing Director of Panbulk Shipping DMCC, Capt. Soumya Patnaik, commended the Odisha Cup Sports Association and the community on the tournament’s ongoing success over the years.

The event’s success was also attributed to the hard work and dedication of the senior organizers, including Rajat Rath, Sushant Jena, Nirlipta Mohanty, Sambhram Patnaik, and Pradyumna Sahoo, along with the core team members like 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.

The largest assembly of Odia sports fans outside of India has emerged since the Odisha Cup’s launch in 2014. With eighteen teams competing, this year’s tournament was the largest milestone in its history and cemented its status as a top sporting event for the Odia community.