In a significant development Olympian, Commonwealth Games champion and Arjuna Awardee, Katulu Ravi Kumar has been elected as the new secretary of Odisha Weightlifting Association (OWA) for a four-year term from 2023 to 2027. The election of office-bearers was held at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack on 24 September 2023.
Ravi Kumar replaced Narayan Sahu, who had been occupying the post for decades. Sahu, however, has been elected as the working president, in place of Nilamani Sahu. Chitta Ranjan Swain has retained his post as the president of the apex State body.
All office-bearers were elected unanimously in the General Body meeting, which was attended by Indian Weightlifting Federation observer A Suryanarayana, Odisha Olympic Association secretary Avijit Paul and Odisha Council of Sports representative Rashmi Ranjan Samantaray.