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When Delhi were battling for a win against Saurashtra in Baroda to stay alive in the knockout race, some 1500 km away an anxious Odisha side was keeping close tabs on the match. With Odisha only one point ahead of Delhis 21, the latters victory would leave Odisha needing to win outright against Jharkhand in their last league game beginning on December 15.However, unlike his team-mates, Odisha captain Govinda Poddar wasnt sweating over the outcome. He was attending a family function in his hometown Rourkela, and had decided to take his mind off the game. His team-mates, though, wouldnt let him be.I wasnt following the scores because I didnt want to be nervous about something I couldnt control. But, every once in a while, someone or the other would ring me up to tell me the score, he told ESPNcricinfo. I would tell them: Yaar, please put the phone down. Tell me at the end if they have lost or not.Not long after, Saurashtra snuffed out Delhis chances by four runs after last man Navdeep Saini was adjudged lbw. As a result, Odisha were into the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy for the first time since 2001-02. This time, Poddar didnt mind the phone calls.I have two phones and both started ringing at the same time. Our wicketkeeper Saurabh Rawat, and Ranjit Singh, the opening batsman, were the first guys to call, he said. When I picked up the phones, I heard their excited voices: Dada, we have qualified, congrats. Then, I called our coach Debasis Mohanty and we congratulated each other.Allrounder Biplab Samantray was one of the players who bombarded Poddar with score updates. He was at his home in Cuttack, discussing the match online with his team-mates. We were all sharing updates on our teams Whatsapp group, and whenever my internet slowed down, I would anxiously ask the others what the score was, he said.Its been 15 years since we have qualified for the knockouts, so obviously there is bound to be excitement. It was a dream of mine, personally, to play in the quarter-finals. We have been doing well this season and God has given us another chance to prove ourselves. We had our teams practice session this afternoon and everyone was excited about performing in a big match. Such things dont come easily.Odisha leave for Thiruvananthapuram on Monday for what would now effectively be a practice match against Jharkhand ahead of the quarter-finals scheduled to begin on December 24. Had Delhi won, the trip would have been a lot more tense, especially with what Odisha have gone through in the last week or so. They were grounded in Dindigul for a week after their last league fixture against Jharkhand was a non-starter following the death of Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Poddar called the hotel arrest a new experience that transcended cricket.From December 2 to 8, we were in Dindigul, he said. We went for practice only on the first two days, and a few hours before she passed away on December 5, there were rumours about her passing away. Our local manager feared there could be acts of violence and said we had to return to the hotel, which was about 35 km away from the ground [in Natham]. After we reached the hotel, we couldnt step out until December 8.It was frustrating, but it was a new experience in the sense we got to know a lot of new things. The passing away of a leader of such stature is sad news, and we could see what it meant to the people there.There was some anxiety over Odishas travel plans, and for a brief period, they didnt know the fate of their match against Jharkhand. There was a bit of apprehension over whether we could get out of town or not, and what would happen to the match, he said.So there was a lot of chaos, but all the boys got together and reassured one another that we couldnt afford to worry about the game. Whenever it took place, we had to be ready - there was nothing more we could do. For those five-six days, all we did was wake up, gather in somebodys room and order room-service. That we have bonded well all season has helped.After the team eventually got back to Odisha, they have had well-deserved downtime. Poddar hoped Odisha, rejuvenated by the break, would go further in the tournament. I was very desperate because some of our players have been performing well over the last few years, but still they are not getting to play at a certain level, he said. To come into the limelight, you need to play quarter-finals and semi-finals. Your matches are broadcast live and people know there is a team that is trying hard to come up the ladder.For now, though, Odisha have earned the right to celebrate their biggest achievement in a while. We havent planned a party yet, Samantray said, but we will have something for sure before we start for Trivandrum.Cullen Gillaspia Womens Jersey . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. J.J. Watt Youth Jersey . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. http://www.texansrookiestore.com/Texans-Deshaun-Watson-Jersey/ . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Max Scharping Womens Jersey . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. Max Scharping Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Jim Popp isnt banking on quarterback Anthony Calvillo or any of the Montreal Alouettes walking wounded returning Thursday night to face the B.C. Lions. Calvillo, who is suspected of having a concussion, was among eight Alouettes injured in their 24-21 road loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday. And given Montreals quick turnaround, interim head coach Popp is assuming all eight wont suit up against B.C. (5-2). "Guys were getting MRIs, seeing doctors (Monday) and (Tuesday) they sit down and get the final word of where they are but we cant wait on that," the Alouettes general manager said in a telephone interview. "Weve had to move forward as though all eight arent playing and if you get one or two back, then great. "But weve had to go into the thinking mode that were not going to have them and move forward." Calvillo, who will celebrate his 41st birthday Friday, was injured in the first half after taking a hard hit from Saskatchewan defensive end Ricky Foley. Pro footballs all-time passing leader had completed four-of-eight passes for 85 yards at the time with Montreal (2-5) trailing 7-3. Backup Josh Neiswander replaced Calvillo, completing 12-of-30 passes for 147 yards and two interceptions. It was Neiswanders first CFL regular-season action since signing with Montreal in 2011. "Ive always said I dont want to know who our next quarterback is, I hope our starter stays on the field," Popp said. "Thats a good sign. "You find guys, you prep them and if they are called to play then they go out there and play and either you win with them or you dont and you realize if theyve got it or they dont have it." If Calvillo doesnt play against B.C., Popp would expect Neiswander to start but could also see rookie Tanner Marsh getting some playing time. Both took snaps with the starting offence in practice last week prior to Montreals game in Regina. "We planned last week that wed play both if it came down to that and we ended up not because Josh handled it fairly well," Popp said. "Hes the more experienced guy and hes looked good in practice but we could very easily see both of them if Anthony doesnt play." Trouble is, Calvillo wasnt the only Alouette hurt in Regina. Also injured were linebackers Bryn Roy (knee), Jonathan Beaulieu-Richard (ankle) and Kyries Hebert (knee), long-snapper Martin Bedard (shoulder), tackle Josh Bourke (knee), safety Mike Edem (shoulder) and receiver Brandon London (head). Whats more, Roy, Beaulieu-Richard, Bedard, Bourke and Edem are all Canadians. Replacing alll of them under normal circumstances would be a huge challenge, let alone on a short week.dddddddddddd "Even to get a guy off a practice roster, theres a process to it," Popp said. "If we were awarded a guy he wouldnt get here in time to practise so theres no sense in doing that. "You get to whats on the street, well, weve made calls to the primary agents that represent most of the non-import guys and they dont have anybody . . . and the guys that were actually on the street a couple of weeks ago who are going back to CIS, well, theyre in practice now and are going back to school so thats limited the number. But thats everybodys problem, not just ours." Popp said London is definitely recovering from a concussion and wont play against the Lions. Earlier this month, Montreal lost veteran receiver Jamel Richardson, a two-time all-star, to a season-ending knee injury in practice. Montreal wasnt the only CFL club hit hard by injuries last weekend. Saskatchewan slotback Rob Bagg injured his left knee in the first half. The native of Kingston, Ont., had missed portions of the previous two seasons with injuries to both knees. Bagg appeared to be in tears while walking off the field. An update on his status is expected Tuesday when the Riders return to practice. Riders slotback Weston Dressler jammed his left shoulder against Montreal but remained in the game, finishing with five catches for 51 yards and a TD. Calgarys Nik Lewis was among the many CFL players tweeting their best wishes to Bagg following his injury. Hours later, the Stampeders veteran receiver suffered a fractured fibula in a 26-22 road loss to B.C. on Saturday night and is expected to miss six weeks. Injuries and an early coaching change have combined to make for a difficult start to the 2013 season for Montreal. Popp is 0-2 as interim coach replacing Dan Hawkins, who was fired after just five games. Presently Montreal has 12 players on the nine-game injured list and running backs Brandon Whitaker (separated shoulder) and Noel Devine (ankle sprain) both didnt play in Regina. Popp isnt optimistic either will suit up Thursday considering the Alouettes wont play again until Sept. 3 in Toronto and both could use the extra time to heal up. "Listen, weve had that kind of year, weve had a lot of injuries," Popp said. "You dont always have that, youre very fortunate some years not to have as many injuries as others but I still believe we can win any game we go into. "Yeah, were missing very key people but we wont make that an excuse." ' ' '