With pickleball gaining worldwide popularity as a racket or paddle sport, a group of enthusiasts of Odisha have come together to form a State body in the name of Odisha Pickleball Association (OPA). In the first meeting of the OPA general body, which was held today at the sports complex of Highway Honda, Rudrapur, Bhubaneswar, several resolutions were taken including election of the office bearers.

Prominent entrepreneur Shakti Ranjan Dash and eminent tennis coach Subhranshu Charan Sarangi were unanimously elected as president and general secretary respectively of the new State body. Two vice-presidents, two joint-secretaries, one treasurer, five executive committee members and two lady representatives were also chosen in the meeting.

“Pickleball, which is emerging as a popular sport around the world, promises to provide sports enthusiasts an exciting opportunity to learn and play the game in the city," said OPA General Secretary, Sarangi.

“With five functional centres, headed by trained coaches in Bhubaneswar by the end of the year, the members of this newly formed association are keen to popularise the game not only in the city but all over the state of Odisha,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, newly elected OPA President Dash said, “Pickleball is believed to be a great cardio programme for players across all age groups and it is surely looking up to be the choice sport for netizens in the days to come.”

As a part of its goal of popularising the sport across the State, OPA today resolved to have its courts at Highway Honda sports complex in Rudrapur and Mayfair Lagoon. State and national level tournaments will soon be organised to take the sport to the next level, said vice-president Aditya Patra, who has provided infrastructure within the precincts of Highway Honda sports complex for OPA courts to come up.

According to general secretary Sarangi, OPA will have its registered office in the Highway Honda sports complex in Rudrapur, Bhubaneswar. He also stated that the new state body will be formally registered soon.

OPA OFFICE-BEARERS: President: Shakti Ranjan Dash; Vice-Presidents: Bijoy Ketan Mishra, Aditya Patra; Joint-Secretary: Anmol Dash; Treasurer: Swarup Chaudhury; Executive Committee Members: Ananta Nayak, Eklavya Mahapatra, Pravin Kumar Nayak, Shubham Pradhan, Santosh Kumar Jena; Lady Representatives: Soumya Shefalika Dash, Priyambada Patra.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: Office-bearers and members of newly formed Odisha Pickleball Association pose at the general body meeting in Rudrapur, Bhubaneswar on 28 September 2023.