Former Odisha goalkeeper Mishra represented the state in the Stantosh Trophy National Football Championsip for the four years. After hanging up his boots, Mishra dedicated himself to grooming young football talents in Bhubaneswar.

Under his vice-presidentship, leading football club, Unit-VI Athletic Association has organised Bhubaneswar Inter-School Football Tournament 29 times and Tata Utkalika Invitation Football Tournament 21 times so far.

Samantaray, an employee of National Aluminium Company (NALCO), pioneered football for women in Odisha and led the state women team in Women National Football Championships. She inspired lot of girls take to football and helped the sport gain popularity in the state. Taking the cudgel from Gitanjali, her younger sister Sradhanjali attained international fame, leading National women football team for many years.
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TOP: Para shuttler Pramod Bhagat, football legends Prafulla Kumar Mishra and Gitanjali Samantaray with OSJA vice-president Suresh Swain, secretary Sanatan Pani and treasurer Himanshu Patimishra at the World Sports Journalists Day function in Bhubaneswar on 2nd July, 2019.
RIGHT: Eminent sportspersons of different era with members of Odisha Sports Journalists Association and Odisha Para Badminton Association at the World Sports Journalists Day function in Bhubaneswar on 2nd July, 2019.