They started off on a cautious note, holding Goa to 1-1 draw. But putting up much improved performance thereafter, Odisha hammered Tamil Nadu 9-0, host Delhi 2-0 and Meghalaya 5-1. Altogether 10 state teams participated in the Final Round. Teams were divided in two groups and top two teams of each group qualified for the semifinals.

ODISHA TEAM: Amrit Lakra, Dubraj Hansdah, Samir Kerketta, Pintu Samal (all Nayagarh); Ranjan Budek (Sambalpur); Krushna Podiami, Deba Madkami (both SAI-HAL); Santosh Mahato, Suraj Malha, Nabin Majhi, Jagdish Oram (all Sundargarh); Sk Kalam, Sk Sahabaz Kadri, Abhinas Samal, Sk Farhan (all Cuttack); Bekey Oram (Jharsuguda); Brundaban Munda (Keonjhar); Kusha Jani (Bolangir); Dula Murmu (Mayurbhanj). Coach: Gyana Ranjan Behera; Manager: Sajiv Patsani.

ODISHA RESULTS:
April 12: Odisha (Samir Kerketta at 31st) drew with Goa (Francis Demello 46th) 1-1.
April 14: Odisha (Bekey Oram 16th, 45th, 81st; Samir Kerketta 12th, 39th; Brundaban Munda 30th, Suraj Malha 38th, Nabin Majhi 71st, Abhinash Samal 90th) beat Tamilnadu 9-0.
April 16: Odisha (Bekey Oram 48th, Pintu Samal 91st) beat Delhi 2-0.
April 18: Odisha (Suraj Malha 14th, Bekey Oram 48th, 50th; Dula Murmu 73rd, Brundanban Munda 75th) beat Meghalaya (Darmiki Tariang 90th) 5-1.
April 21 (SF): Odisha (Bekey Oram 68th, 90th; Dula Murmu 80th) beat Madhya Pradesh (Lamujingba Meitei 48th) 3-1.
April 23 (Final): West Bengal (Kartik Golder 88th) beat Odisha 1-0.
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TOP: Odisha sub-junior football team with officials in Cuttack.
RIGHT: Odisha boys receive the runners-up trophy in New Delhi on April 23, 2016.