BJP Legislator from Jharsuguda, Tankadhar Tripathy became the new president of Football Association of Odisha (FAO) after the result of his election was announced during the Special General Meeting of the State football body at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack today.

The post of the president was lying vacant following the demise of senior BJP leader Samir Dey. Forty-six year-old Tripathy was elected unopposed as he was the only candidate in the fray. He was congratulated by by FAO office-bearers, including working president Srikar Mishra, secretary Asirbad Behera, vice-presidents Bijay Das, Padma Lochan Lenka, Dilip Kumar Sahoo, Md Shahid Jabbar, Birendra Kumar Behera, Asit Baran Pati, treasurer Bhakta Ballav Das.

FAO joint-secretaries Avijit Paul, Biswa Ranjan Gharae, Bijay Kumar Das, Sradhanjali Samantaray also welcomed the new president and extended their best wishes for his successful tenure. Odisha Olympic Association president Samir Mohanty also congratulated Tripathy on becoming the FAO president.