Angul: In a dramatic final, Jaga United triumphed over Jharsuguda FC with a score of 4-3 in a penalty shootout to secure the O.P. Jindal Cup 2024 for the first time. The match, held at the PTC Ground in Angul, drew thousands of enthusiastic football lovers.
The Final Event after 12 days of Play of football matches amongst 12 teams was honored by the presence of Shri Rudra Narayan Pani, Hon’ble Member of Parliament for Dhenkanal Constituency as the Chief Guest. Distinguished guests included Shri Pratap Chandra Pradhan, Hon’ble MLA Angul; Shri Agasti Behera, Hon’ble MLA Chhendipada; Shri Akhay Kumar Samant, Chairman of Angul Municipality; Shri Damodar Mittal, Executive Director of Jindal Steel & Power (JSP); Shri Hemant Kumar Singh, CDO cum ED Zilla Parishad; Shri Akhaya Seth, District Sports Officer; and Shri Kishore Kumar Kar, Treasurer of the Athletic Association.
During the event, Lok Sabha M.P. Shri Rudra Narayan Pani and other dignitaries applauded the JSP Foundation for its contributions, highlighting the efforts of JSP Chairman Shri Naveen Jindal and JSP Foundation Chairperson Smt. Shallu Jindal in advancing the community upliftment and national development through their multifaceted Sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.
Awards were presented to outstanding performers: Rinku Oram of Jharsuguda was honored as the Best Player of the Tournament, Sishir Nayak of Jaga United Bhubaneswar received the Best Goalkeeper award, and Tofan Nayak was named Man of the Final Match for his exceptional performance.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Damodar Mittal expressed gratitude to everyone involved in making the tournament a grand success. He emphasized JSP’s commitment to serving the community and highlighted the Foundation’s priority of encouraging local sports talent.
The referees for the final match were Siba Sanker Panda, Dilip Kumar Rout, Alok Dehuri, and Bhleswar Garai. Mr. Jayanta Kumar Mohanty, GM-CSR, and his team successfully organized the tournament with the support of the District Sports Authority, Angul.