FULL NAME: Rajendra Prasad Pani
NICK NAME: Raju
BORN: 16th March 16, 1963 in Bhubaneswar (Source: Government of Odisha)
GENDER: Male
MARITAL STATUS: Married
FAMILY: Father (Bharat Pani), mother (Urmila Pani), wife (Dharitri), one son (Vighnesh), two brothers (Siba Prasad and Uma Shankar) and one sister (Sunita).
HOME ADDRESS: Plot No 721, BJB Nagar, Tankapani Road, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
TELEPHONE NO: 0674-2431482 (Res), 09437299887 (Mobile).
ACADEMIC EDUCATION: Commerce Graduate from BJB College, Bhubaneswar (Utkal University
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION: Diploma in Coaching (Basketball) from NSNIS, Calcutta, 1985-86. Became BFI `B’ panel official in 2003.
ROLE IN BASKETBALL: Player-turned-Coach
RECEIVED COACHING FROM: Late Dhirendranath Pradhan
HOME CLUB: Bhubaneswar Basketball Association
PLAYING CAREER: Six years (1979-84).
PROFESSION: Serving as basketball coach in the Directorate of Sports, Government of Odisha since November, 1986.
HOBBY: Loves art
AMBITION IN LIFE: To become an international coach

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS AS PLAYER:
*     Represented Odisha in Junior National Championship for two years (1983 and 1984)

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS AS COACH:
*     Groomed many basketball players including international Lakhwindar Singh Ajula, national Sangramjeet Sarangi, Prahallad Behera and Safalya Patra.
*     Organised month-long free summer coaching camp for beginners for 17 years (2001-2017) in Bhubaneswar.

OTHER IMPORTANT DATA:
*     Promoted to the post of Under Secretary Sports in Class-I of Odisha State Service in DSYS wef 1st March, 2021.
*     As Under Secretary, coordinated various programmes, including conduct of major coaching camps and competitions, life skill development for sports hostel inmates and mental wellness for coaches.
*     Also worked as DSYS Technical Cell member for cash incentives to outstanding sportspersons, sports pension, weightage and recruitment in Odisha Police.
*     Managed Indian camp for elite javelin throwers at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar from December 2020 to February 2021.
*     Married on 27 November, 1996.

PROFILE FIRST UPLOADED: 18th September, 2009
PROFILE LAST UPDATED: 12th June, 2021