Sambalpur Sports Hostel beat Cuttack Sports Hostel 1-0 in the hard-fought final to retain the trophy in the 7th Biju Patnaik Gold Cup Football Tournament at Kalinga Stadium here today. Rudra Prasad Pradhan scored the all-important goal in the 16th minute. The victorious team took home a cash prize of Rs 10,000.

Mahesh Pradhan, Rudra Pradhan (both Sambalpur Sports Hostel); Bikash Padhiari and Bhabagrahi Padhiari (both Cuttack Sports Hostel) were adjudged best goalkeeper, best defender, best mid-fielder and best forward respectively.

Odisha Energy Minister Arun Kumar Sahu handed over the trophy in the closing function. Former minister Padmanav Behera, host Unit-VI Athletic Association president Tapan Mohanty and secretary Dilip Das were present on the occasion.
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PHOTO: Sambalpur Sports Hostel boys lift the Biju Gold Cup in Bhubaneswar on March 31, 2013.