Bhubaneswar, 18 August 2022 (Sanatan Pani): Odisha Sports Journalists Association (OSJA) observed the 22nd death anniversary of eminent sports journalist, Dr Ashok Pattnaik with a meeting at Saheed Sporting Club Ground here today.

Dr Pattnaik, who worked for leading Odia dailies, Sambad, Dharitri and Samaya, was paid homage not only as a highly knowledgeable sports scribe, but also as an humble, kind-hearted and helpful human.

Gracing the meeting as the chief guest, Olympian and former women’s 100m hurdles National record-holder, Anuradha Biswal lauded the contribution of Dr Pattnaik sports journalism and bringing sports journalists of Odisha under one umbrella.

The meeting assumed added significance with the presence of Dr Pattnaik’s son, Anupam for the first time. He thanked OSJA for organizing the event every year in the memory of his father. “I am overwhelmed for the love, affection and respect OSJA has for my father,” said Anupam, who works at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

OSJA President Sandeep Mishra presided over the meeting, which was coordinated by Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) Vice-President Sambit Mohapatra.

OSJA Working-President K Ravi, Vice-Presidents Himanshu Patimishra and Samikhya Patnaik; Secretary Debi Prasanna Mohanty, Joint-Secretaries Suresh Swain and Tapan Swain, Treasurer Debasis Sundaray, Executing Members Sanatan Pani, Dipti Ranjan Samal and Members Rajanikanta Satrusalya, Sarbeswar Mohanty, Shakti Prakash Nanda, Bimal Kumar Raul, Ranjan Kumar Ray, Debi Prasanna Panigrahi, Mahendra Sahoo, Chakradhar Majhi, Tushar Senapati paid floral tribute to Dr Pattnaik.

The first and complete souvenir of OSJA was released on the occasion. The cover of the souvenir, which features articles on sports achievements of Odisha, sports journalism in the State and activities of OSJA, had been unveiled on the occasion of World Sports Journalists Day earlier on 2 July 2022.