Bhubaneswar: In a breathtaking final match, Media XI defeated Officers XI to win the Tata Steel Friendship Cup Football Tournament 2026 at the Kalinga Stadium on Saturday.
The match went to a penalty shootout and Media XI, led by Sandeep Mishra, editor, Odishabytes, won 3-1.
Four teams participated in the tournament. Tata Steel XI was led by Vineet Tripathy, chief, O&M, NINL, while Leaders XI was led jointly by Rabi Naik, minister of panchayati raj and rural development, Odisha and Arun Sahu, MLA (BJD). Officers XI was led by Saswata Mishra, additional chief secretary to the chief minister.
Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi was present at the event with deputy chief minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo. Mukesh Mahaling, minister of electronics & information technology, health and family welfare, parliamentary affairs, Rabi Narayan Naik, minister of panchayati raj and rural development, Suryabanshi Suraj, minister of Odia language, literature & culture, higher education, sports & youth services, Sampad Chandra Swain, minister of state, industries and skill development & technical education also joined in.
Several MLAs from different constituencies of the state were also present.
The Man of the Match for the first match between Tata Steel XI and Officers XI was Dhiman Chakma from Officers XI. The Man of the Match for the second match between Leaders XI and
Media XI was Bibhuti Biswal from Media XI. The Man of the Match for the final between Officers XI and Media XI was Ramesh Hansdah from Officers XI.
During the trophy distribution, the Sports Lover Award presented to MLA Upasana Mohapatra, while Rishabh Parekh (Media XI) was adjudged the highest scorer.
Niranjan Reddy (Media XI) was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper, while Sumit Muduli from the same team won the Best Defence award.
J D Pati was awarded Best Forward, Ramaswamy (Officers XI) won Best Half, and Saswata Mishra (Officers XI) was named Best All-rounder. The Fair Play Trophy went to Dr. Arun Sahoo (Leaders XI).
Chief minister Majhi appreciated the spirited performances of the Officers XI, Leaders’ XI and Tata Steel Team in his address, and congratulated all the teams for their enthusiasm and sportsmanship.
“Such friendly sporting events bring people together and strengthen the bond between the government, administration, media and Tata Steel. Grateful to Tata Steel for organising this wonderful initiative towards a healthier Odisha,” he said.
Other eminent dignitaries present included Saswata Mishra, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, Government of Odisha; Bhupendra Singh Poonia, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Government for the Sports & Youth Services Department and the Skill Development and Technical Education Department, Odisha and Amitabh Thakur, IPS, Transport Commissioner-cum-Chairman, State Transport Authority (STA), Odisha; D.B. Sundara Ramam, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel; and other senior government and Tata Steel officials.
Top officials from several media houses were also present at the occasion along with D B Sundara Ramam, vice president, Corporate Services, Tata Steel.