Odisha Gymnastics Faces Criticism Over Outdated Letterhead Featuring Deceased President

The Odisha Gymnastics Association encountered a controversial situation after using letterheads imprinted with the name of its late President, Samir Dey. Secretary Ashok Kumar Sahoo extended an apology, calling the incident an 'unintentional mistake' following reports highlighting this oversight.

The issue surfaced when invoices issued for the National Gymnastics Championships were found with the name of Dey, who passed away in November 2024. This raised questions about the association securing nearly Rs 98 lakh from the state government while official documents still referred to Dey. Sahoo noted that the vice-president, Dhiren Panda, is currently acting in-charge, although new stationery hadn't been printed.

Additionally, Sahoo mentioned that the current committee, established for nearly two decades, will disband by August with plans to conduct new elections following the National Sports Code. The situation has sparked a debate on the association's organizational practices.

(With inputs from agencies.)