The Odisha Gymnastics Association (OGA) has issued an apology for the unintentional use of the name of its late president, Samir Dey, on official letterhead. This oversight came to light after invoices related to the National Gymnastics Championships were found to bear Dey’s name, despite his passing in November 2024.

OGA secretary Ashok Kumar Sahoo acknowledged the mistake, describing it as an ‘unintentional error.’ He stated, ‘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 emphasized the association’s commitment to transparency and assured that the issue would be rectified promptly. Additionally, a complaint to the commissioner-cum-secretary of Odisha’s Sports and Youth Services Department has raised concerns about the OGA’s receipt of nearly Rs 98 lakh in state funding for the 2026 National Gymnastics Championships, while invoices exceeding Rs 1.96 crore still referenced Dey as president.

Sahoo noted that vice-president Dhiren Panda is currently acting as the head of the association, but new letterheads have not yet been printed, necessitating the continued use of existing stationery. He also mentioned that the current committee, which has been in place for nearly two decades, is set to be dissolved by August, with new elections planned in accordance with the National Sports Code.