Shining Star emerged champions in the Yuva Basketball Tournament, defeating Kalinga Basketball Club by 72-69 points in the well-contested final here at IMFA Park, Sahid Nagar today. Dinesh was adjudged both man of the final match and man of the tournament.

Mother’s Basketball Club beat Cuttack Basketball Union 40-30 to finish third in the four-day tournament. Earlier in the semifinals, Shining Star posted 67-38 win over Mother’s Basketball Club, whilel Kalinga Basketball Club prevailed over Cuttack Basketball Union 66-46.

Bhubaneswar Central MLA Bijay Kumar Mohanty graced the closing ceremony as chief guest and handed over the trophy. Host Sunshine Youth Association chief advisor Saroj Kumar Patra, chairman Biswajit Mohanty and general secretary Chandra Sekhar Sahoo were present on the occasion.

International blind cricketer Mohammad Jafar Iqbal, woman cricketer Priyanka Priyadarshini Sahu and basketball coach DP Irani and player Rajashree Swain were felicitated on the occasion. The tournament was earlier inaugurated by State Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra.

Mother’s Basketball Club beat Bhubaneswar Sports Hostel 58-41 and Shining Star got the better of Rovers Club 68-63 in the first two matches of the tournament.
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PHOTO: Players of champion Shining Star with guests and officials at the closing ceremony of Yuva Basketball Tournament in Bhubaneswar on Feb 24, 2018.