Veteran sports organiser Gopinath Ghosh passes away

Gopinath Ghosh, one of the most respected organisers in Bengal’s sporting fraternity, passed away at his residence on Wednesday night due to age-related ailments.

Ghosh, 87, breathed his last at around 10.45 p.m. on Wednesday night, leaving behind a rich legacy that spanned administration, sports development and cultural engagement.

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Though he began his sporting life as an athlete, Ghosh later carved out a distinguished career as a sports administrator. He was closely associated with the Bengal Olympic Association, where he earned a reputation for integrity and efficiency, and played a significant role in the growth of several disciplines, particularly table tennis, in the state.

Interestingly, despite later heading the state table tennis association, Ghosh was a hockey player by training.

He represented Bengal at the national level and was a goalkeeper for leading clubs such as Mohun Bagan, East Indian Railway (EIR), and Customs.

He was part of teams that featured legendary Olympians like Keshav Dutt, Leslie Claudius and Gurubux Singh, and also had a Beighton Cup title to his credit.

In his administrative career, Ghosh served as treasurer of the Bengal Olympic Association and was actively involved with the Sutanuti Parishad in north Kolkata.

During the 1980s and 1990s, his partnership with Ravi Chakraborty in running state table tennis became widely known.

Under their stewardship, several players rose to prominence, including Ganesh Kundu, Arup Basak, Kishalay Basak, Nupur Santra, Mantu Ghosh, Anindita Chakraborty, Poulomi Ghatak and Mouma Das.

Ghosh’s passing away has left the Maidan and Bengal’s sporting community in deep mourning.