Odisha Gymnastics Association Apologises For Using Late President's Name On Official Letterhead
Odisha Gymnastics Association Apologises For Using Late President's Name On Official Letterhead Published By, Last Updated: May 30, 2026, 13:49 IST Invoices related to the
Odisha Gymnastics Association Apologises For Using Late President's Name On Official Letterhead Published By, Last Updated: May 30, 2026, 13:49 IST Invoices related to the Gymnastics Championships were issued on a letterhead bearing the name of Samir Dey. Rapid Read Samir Dey passed away in 2024. (Representative Image) Odisha Gymnastics Association (OGA) secretary Ashok Kumar Sahoo has apologised for the continued use of late president Samir Dey’s name on the association’s official letterhead, calling it an “unintentional mistake". The apology followed a PTI report that invoices related to the Gymnastics Championships were issued on letterheads bearing Dey’s name, despite his passing in November 2024.
The Championships concluded here earlier this month. “I, Ashok Kumar Sahoo, Honorary Secretary, Odisha Gymnastics Association, took notice of the story published in different media channels about the mention of our late President Shri Samir Dey on our letterhead. It was an oversight error and an unintentional mistake," Sahoo said in a statement. “We run our association transparently. However, I apologise for the oversight error and we will rectify it as soon as possible," he added. Meanwhile, a complaint submitted to the commissioner-cum-secretary of Odisha’s Sports and Youth Services Department has raised questions over how the OGA secured nearly Rs 98 lakh in state government funding for the 2026 Gymnastics Championships while invoices worth more than Rs 1.96 crore and other official documents continued to list the late Dey as president.
Sahoo had previously stated that vice-president Dhiren Panda was serving as the association’s acting head. However, new letterheads had not yet been printed, leading to the continued use of existing stationery carrying Dey’s name. He also said that the current committee, which has been in office for nearly two decades, would be dissolved by August, with fresh elections to be held in accordance with the Sports Code. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: May 30, 2026, 13:49 IST News sports other-sports Odisha Gymnastics Association Apologises For Using Late President's Name On Official Letterhead Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s.
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