Masoom Club Jheetiya clinches title; Farhad Somni finishes runner-up in thrilling final
Published on: December 20, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
The rural-level Manki Cricket Tournament 2025, organised by New South Cricket Club, Manki, concluded with great enthusiasm, highlighting the growing sporting talent in rural areas. The grand closing ceremony was attended by prominent dignitaries and sports enthusiasts from across the region.
The Chief Guest of the concluding ceremony was Shahid Bhai, General Secretary of the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee, while the programme was presided over by State Congress Spokesperson Rupesh Dubey. Shailendra Kashyap, Panna Nishad, and several senior villagers were present as special guests.
The final match, played between Jheetiya (Deori Bangla, Balod) and Farhad Somni, turned out to be a highly competitive and thrilling contest. After an exciting display of cricket, Masoom Club Jheetiya emerged as the champion, while Farhad Somni secured the runner-up position.
Addressing the gathering, Shahid Bhai said that tournaments like the Manki Cricket Competition play a crucial role in identifying and polishing rural sporting talent. He noted that the consistent organisation of such events in Manki has provided young players from the entire region with an opportunity to showcase their skills. He also highlighted the uniqueness of the tournament, which allows participation of only 32 selected teams, adding to its competitive standard. This year, teams from other districts also participated, making the tournament more extensive and prestigious.
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Prize distribution was a key highlight of the event.
- Winner Masoom Club Jheetiya was awarded ₹12,001 in cash along with a Winner’s Cup, sponsored in memory of late Mangtu Ram Yadav, presented by Gokul Sahu of the Indian Army.
- Runner-up Farhad Somni received ₹8,001 in cash and a Winner’s Cup, sponsored by former Sarpanch Shailendra Kashyap, presented by Hirendra Sahu of the Indian Army.
- The third prize of ₹5,001 in cash along with a cup was awarded to Birejhar Bhata, sponsored by Meghraj Chandrakar and Dev Kumari Sahu, and presented by Dhanendra Sahu of the Border Security Force (BSF).
- The fourth prize of ₹3,001 in cash and a cup was presented to Raveli, sponsored by Om Logistics, by Ajay Sahu of Chhattisgarh Police.
Individual awards were also presented to outstanding performers:
- Man of the Series: Karan (Farhad)
- Best Batsman: Mahi (Jheetiya)
- Best Bowler: Roshan (Raveli)
- Best Fielder: Captain Nishad (Birejhar Bhata)
The event concluded with a call from organisers and guests to make future editions of the Manki Cricket Tournament bigger and more inclusive, ensuring continued encouragement for rural sports talent.
