Future Bhubaneswar School (FBS) organized its inaugural “FBS Champions Trophy,” a pioneering sports extravaganza from August 22-24, 2024. This innovative league-cum-knockout tournament was jointly conceptualized and executed by FBS and Sportify Sports Education & Management Services Pvt Ltd. 6 teams and 48 talented players participated in this event. 

The FBS Champions Trophy aimed to promote sportsmanship, teamwork, and healthy competition among school students. This unique franchise-based championship provided an exhilarating platform for students to showcase their athletic prowess and teamwork skills. Inspired by popular sports leagues like IPL, ISL, Pro Kabaddi, and PBL, the tournament format encouraged students to participate in a thrilling experience.

Several innovative features contributed to the tournament’s standout success. Notably, the event introduced marquee players, selected through a lottery system, to lead each team, injecting excitement and talent into the competition. Additionally, an in-house bidding system allowed teams to strategically select players, while a virtual team budget allocation added an extra layer of realism to player purchases. Furthermore, the tournament prioritized inclusivity by mandating the inclusion of female students in each team, actively promoting girls’ participation in sports and fostering a culture of equality and diversity.

Two months prior to the tournament, six academic teachers were appointed as owners of the following franchise teams:

•         Bhubaneswar Jets
•         Kalinga Warriors
•         Cuttack Kesharis
•         Rourkela Steelers
•         Sambalpur Weavers
•         Puri Juggernauts

83 students (69 boys and 14 girls) registered for the auction. Marquee players were selected through a lottery system, while other players were chosen through a bidding process. The highest bids went to Master Neel Madhav Tudu (Puri Juggernauts) for Rs. 22.5 lacs and Miss Adyasha Mohanty (Sambalpur Weavers) for Rs. 11 lacs.

After three days of intense competition, Bhubaneswar Jets emerged as champions, defeating Puri Juggernauts in a nail-biting final. Master Suhan Panda claimed the Golden Boot prize with 6 goals.