Odisha minister assures all support for SJFI mega event in city in 2016

Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, July 2:

Odisha Sports and Youth Services minister Sudam Marandi today assured all possible support to the Odisha Sports Journalists Association (OSJA) for organisation of the 39th national level convention of Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) here in 2016.

Addressing members of OSJA on the occasion of ‘World Sports Journalists Day’ at the UCCI conference hall here today, the minister also accepted the Association’s demand for a room for sports journalists inside the Kalinga Stadium complex here.

The convention will be jointly organized by OSJA and Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI), OSJA joint secretary and member of the executive committee of SJFI Sambit Mohapatra said.

The five-day national convention will be a mega affair with over 100 top sports journalists of the country participating in it, Mohapatra said.

“In these five days, various sports events such as cricket tournament, football, basket ball and table tennis will be held,” he said adding OSJA had already got the permission to stage the conference.

“We had requested the honourable minister for a room for OSJA inside Kalinga Stadium complex which would provide a platform for sports journalists of the state to interact, share ideas and exchange information and he has graciously agreed to the request,” said Mohapatra, who is among the best known sports journalists in Odisha.

The 38th edition of the national convention is going to be held in Mumbai in 2015, the news editor of ‘Nirbhay’ said.

OSJA felicitated noted journalist and executive editor of Samaj Sushant Kumar Mohanty for his contribution in the field of journalism on the occasion.

Among others, K Ravi, senior journalist, Lazarus Barla, Indian Hockey player and others were present at the ceremony.