Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Sports Journalists’ Association (OSJA) in association with the the Sports and Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha, celebrated the ‘World Sports Journalists’ Day’ at a function in the Kalinga Stadium here Tuesday.
Sports & Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj took to social media and extended heartfelt wishes to all sports journalists, acknowledging their significant contributions to the promotion and development of sports in Odisha and across India. The minister emphasised the indispensable role of sports journalists in inspiring athletes, informing the public, and fostering a culture of sportsmanship and excellence.
Olympian and SWG medallist weightlifter K Ravi Kumar was present graced the occasion at the Kalinga Stadium as chief guest. Guest of Honour, R Vineel Krishna, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Sports and Youth Services department, extended his best wishes to the media fraternity and highlighted the importance of the collaborative efforts between the government and media in fostering a robust sports culture in the state. “Today, we recognise not just the achievements of our athletes but also the dedication of sports journalists who bring their stories to life and encourage them to perform better,” Vineel Krishna stated. “There has been a major rise in the number of medals in the junior and sub-junior categories in the state in the recent past,” observed Vineel Krishna.
Olympian Srabani Nanda shared her experiences and the pivotal role of the Media in her athletic journey. On the occasion Sambit Mohapatra, working president of OSJA and Suresh Kumar Swain, secretary OSJA reinforced on the association’s commitment to support and empower sports journalists in the State.
As a part of the event, the journalists were taken on a special tour by the Sports Secretary, to the Sports Science Centre. This tour showcased the most advanced and world-class facilities used in tracking, analysing, and improving the performance of athletes through the state-of-art equipment and recovery sessions.
PNN