Odisha Juggernauts Set for Semi-Finals Clash Against Gujarat Giants After Successful Group Stage
Odisha Juggernauts concluded the group stage of Season 2 in the Ultimate Kho Kho with a 34-23 win against Mumbai Khiladis. Securing their place in the semi-finals, they are set to face the Gujarat Giants in the next round. With 23 points in 10 matches, comprising 6 victories and only two losses, the Odisha Juggernauts finish second on the table. Speaking ahead of the semi-finals, Sports Secretary, Shri Vineel Krishna said, “Promoting indigenous sports is very important to us and therefore we are delighted to see the state-owned franchise of the Odisha Juggernauts only two victories away from a second consecutive title in the Ultimate Kho-kho League. We are sure the fans will turn out in huge numbers to support their team.” For the reigning champions, a second consecutive title would be another triumph in Kho Kho following Odisha’s two silver medals in Men’s and Women’s Kho-Kho at the recently concluded 37th edition of the National Games. With both teams eager for the prize, fans can expect a hard-fought affair. In their previous two encounters against the Gujarat Giants, the Odisha Juggernauts won their most recent clash 35-27, while conceding defeat in their first encounter, 29-34. Expressing confidence ahead of the semi-finals, Odisha Juggernauts Captain, Dipesh More said, “It’s always good to go into a high-pressure game like a semi-final with a victory so we are feeling confident. The team is looking forward to the support from the home crowd and these factors can make a big difference in critical games.” Notably, the Odisha Juggernauts have been equipped with a physio, masseur and strength and conditioning coach from Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance, along with the resources of the recently inaugurated, state-of-the-art Sports Science Centre at the Kalinga Sports Complex in Bhubaneswar. The Sports Science Centre houses specialised labs including a Para-Athlete Performance Lab, Biomechanics Lab, Altitude Training Chamber, Cryotherapy, floatation therapy and various other sports science equipment. Speaking on their preparation during the tournament, vice-captain Gowtham MK said, “The set up has been very professional and it has exposed us to many techniques for training and recovery. Not only does this help our in-game performances but it has also helped us develop significantly as individual athletes.” The Odisha Juggernauts will take on the Gujarat Giants on January 11th at the Jawaharlal Indoor Stadium in Cuttack. The Sportz Planet Desk
From being a milkman, to the Adani Sportsline Owned Gujarat Giants – Deepak Madhav Aims for Glory
Cuttack, 3rd January 2023: Gujarat Giants’ ace defender Deepak Madhav has been a mainstay in the sport of Kho Kho for almost a decade. Having been signed on by the Adani Sportsline-owned team for the second season of the Ultimate Kho Kho League, which began on December 24, the 27-year-old defender is ready to take his game a notch up, but the road to stardom has not been easy for the Maharashtrian Kho Kho star. Just as he was making his career, winning laurels and on the way to fame, his father suffered a serious health illness which forced him to work as a newspaper vendor as well as a milkman. Talking about his initial struggles, and why Kho Kho was the sport for him, Deepak said, “Kho Kho is a sport which does not need more than a shorts and sandal and a ground to play. Most of the other sports needed a lot of efforts which, at that moment, was not possible because my father had a heart surgery then. So, the burden was mostly on my brother so pursing any other sport was not a big possibility.“ Despite this, his aim was fixed — playing for the Railways. He worked hard towards that goal, and did not let setbacks stop him from achieving his dreams. “When I started playing Kho Kho, I was always selected for the state but was never able to break into the nationals. Always in the stand-bys. During one such U18s State Championship, I performed very well through the knockouts and won a prize as well. This led to my selections in the nationals. This paved the way to the Maharashtra team and then the Senior Nationals and eventually the Railways side, which was my eventual dream.” “It took me four attempts to break into the Railways team. In the first three tries the more senior members of the team got through so when I got selected for the Railways team, it was my breakthrough moment in the sport,” an emotional Deepak said. His hard work has paid dividends. Deepak is now a regular India international, and a gold medal winner at the South Asian Games in 2018, even missing his sister’s wedding for the same. “I have sacrificed attending my sister’s wedding in 2018, and my brother’s wedding in 2019, for Kho Kho. In 2018, I was representing India at the South Asian Games in Nepal. We won the Gold for the country at the South Asian Games and this, I considered as one of my biggest achievements in the sport. The perfect return gift for my sister, and a very proud moment for my family,” recalled the defender. And having missed out on the title in the season 1 of the Ultimate Kho Kho League, Deepak is ready to go the distance with the Giants, a team that he loves for a variety of reasons. “I missed out on the trophy last time around by 5 seconds. This time, with the Gujarat Giants, I want to fulfil what I could not and secure the title for my team. We have received great support from the Adani Sportsline team, they’ve made us feel at home, kept us motivated to go for the win at all times,” he noted. With season 2 of the Ultimate Kho Kho League turning towards the business end, the Gujarat Giants are well on their way to the final four. “I have played in a few teams over my career so far, and not just me, everyone will agree that this is one of the best team managements we could have found. They back us to the hilt and the overall feeling in the camp is also very good, and you can see it when we are playing,” the defender signed off. The Sportz Planet Desk
