RENOWNED SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR, COACH IS NO MORE
Rajesh Mohapatra,Odishabarta
ROURKELA: One of the finest sports administrator and popularly known as ‘Pitamah Bhisma’ of sports, Dibakar Mohanty has breathed his last in Rourkela Yesterday.
He had been undergoing treatment for multi-organ failure and cancer in Ispat General Hospital (IGH) but he could not survive despite the high end efforts by the doctors. He had retired from Rourkela Steel Plant long years back and was involved in sports administration.
He was the technical, official and referee of for football, boxing Volleyball games. He had represented Odisha Athletic federation, Athletic federation of India, Indian Amateur Boxing Federation, Volleyball Federation of India, Indian Hockey federation and Odisha Football Association, Asian Games, Asian Track and Field Athletic Meet, Common Wealth Boxing Championship and Common Wealth Games as technician and official. He was served Sundergarh District Sports Association as Working President.
He had served RSP as an employee in 1974 and remained active in sports area after his retirement. He had done so many things for the sports persons in and around Rourkela and under him many sports persons have represented in the State and National Level. He also remained as selectors for many games in the district and State level. He was a great inspiration for all boys and girls who are in sports. He never shy away to help whosoever comes to him for his guidance and support. He remained active all through. His prolonged illness somehow slowdown his sports activities but not his moral.
His loss is a great loss to sports fraternity in the state. He was also member of many socio-cultural organizations in Rourkela, most importantly he had formed one of the leading socio-cultural organizations Basanti Pathagar in Basanti colony with some of his friends and while he was taking training in Jamshedpur as a trainee in the year 1958, he had formed Pragati Utkal Snagha there. He was left with his two sons and the younger son is Subash Mohanty who was also a great cricketer and had represented the State in junior and senior level and is now working as selector in junior section. His cremation was done in Vedvyas in presence of his family members and well wishers. Many representatives of different organizations had visited his residence and paid their last respect. Leading sports personalities across the state have sent their condolence message in his death. Truly, he was a man of substance and will be remembered for his contribution to sports.
