Sports journalism in Assam has stepped into its 100th year and in this regard s year-long celebration has begun on July 2.
The Assam Sports Journalists Association (ASJA), which is affiliated to the Sports Journalists Federation of India which is the national affiliate of the World Sports Federation AIPS, is celebrating the 100th year as the centenary celebration of sports journalism in Assam under the theme Assam Sports Journalism@100.
The celebration will continue till the 1st of July 2023.
Flags of ASJA and the centenary celebration of sports journalism in Assam were hoisted by founder president of ASJA Balendra Mohan Chakraborty and veteran sports journalist and former ASJA president Pabitra Gogoi respectively in presence of former bureaucrat and sports organiser Rajib Prakash Baruah among others on the premises of ASJA office in RG Baruah sports complex in Guwahati.
On this occasion, a felicitation ceremony was organised at the conference hall of the Assam Olympic Association (AOA) which was attended by some of the prominent journalists of Assam such as Dhirendra Nath Chakraborty, Premadhar Sarma, Pranoy Bordoloi, PJ Baruah, Nava Thakuria and Sanjiv Phukan among others.
PJ Baruah, the executive editor of The Assam Tribune, spoke on the importance of the sports section in newspapers and how the media houses have started to give more space to sports news over the years.
Assam Olympic Association (AOA) general secretary Lakhya Konwar also graced the occasion. Konwar said sports journalists have played a major role in the growth of sports in the state over the decades.
“We are deeply indebted to the sports journalists for their contribution. Sports journalism is a crucial part and we as the apex sports body of the state feel privileged to walk hand in hand with the sports journalists for the growth of sports in Assam,” Konwar said.
Besides, family members of some of the pioneer sports journalists of Assam attended the event. The organisers also felicitated the family members of the deceased former sports journalists who have enriched the field with their invaluable contributions.
Speaking on the occasion, former Editor of Dainik Asam Dhirendra Nath Chakraborty recalled the early days when radio used to play a crucial role in bringing sports events and news closer to the mass.
The celebration coincided with world sports journalist day which is celebrated annually on July 2.
The family members of sports journalists who were feted on the occasion include Kalyan Das on behalf of his father Pulin Das, Bipul Barman on behalf of his father Tarani Barman, Junti Bora on behalf of her husband Purbajyoti Chutia, Semim Akhtar Hannan on behalf of her husband Rahman Ali, Urbashi Devi on behalf of her husband Dwijen Ch Sarma, Ruzon Gupta on behalf of her husband Nanda Kishore Gupta, Shyamal Choudhury on behalf of his father Murali Choudhury, Anita Goswami on behalf of her brother Kulen Kalita, Pradeep Nath on behalf of his nephew Gautam Bora, Smriti Sarma on behalf of her husband Sanjiv Sarma Thakur, Indira Choudhury on behalf of her husband Nirod Choudhury, Sukanya Ghatak on behalf of her uncle Kingshuk Ghatak, Hari Chandra Das on behalf of his father Debi Ram Das, Paban Mishra on behalf of his brother Gopal Mishra, Sima Das on behalf of her husband Kapil Das, and Ashish Dey.
The yearlong celebrations are being sponsored by ONGC, NRL, TOPCEM, ACA, Assam Olympic Association and other well-wishers of the ASJA, said ASJA secretary Imtiaz Ahmed.
