JM Sports Academy, a Bhubaneswar-based multi-discipline private coaching & training academy of Odisha, felicitated five sports journalists of the State on the eve of the World Sports Journalists Day at the academy complex, located at Sameigadia in Mancheswar.

Santosh Kumar Mohanty (Jagannath Express), Rajanikanta Satrusalya (Pratidin), Subhajit Jena (Argus News), Bijaya Kumar Khuntia (Suryaprava), Tapan Kumar Moharana (Sambad) and Manoj Kumar Swain (Prameya), along with social worker Bikash Kumar Jena, were felicitated on the occasion.

Odisha women football legend Sradhanjali Samantaray graced the function as chief guest. Sanatan Pani, editor, orisports.com, a dedicated website on Odisha sports, was the chief speaker. Wheelchair fencing international Rakhal Kumar Sethy and Durga Samantray, editor, Duradarshi were guests of honour.

The programme featured discussion on the important role played by sports journalists for the promotion of sports. With sports becoming an important part of and healthy living and a dignified way to achieve national and international glory, it was felt that the the State Government and corporate houses should provide support to coaching and training centres such as JM Sports Academy, who have been rendering yeomen service in nurturing young talents and helping them to become accomplished sportspersons in the future.

Budding gymnasts of the academy made it a delightful programme by displaying their skills on various apparatuses. The sincere efforts, put in by academy chairperson Mirarani Das, secretary Jashobanta Das, legal adviser Subrat Kumar Mohapatra and the staff members proved to be a commendable gesture towards the sports journalist fraternity of the State.