New Delhi, March 16 (NationPress) The Golden Jubilee celebration of the Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) National Convention wrapped up with an impressive closing ceremony at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday. Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) President Rohan Jaitley highlighted the significance of collaboration between sports administrators and journalists.

“Maintaining a balance between cricket administration and journalistic critique is crucial. Whether facing criticism or receiving feedback, it is vital for administrators to understand where improvements can be made. Recognizing our errors is essential for progress,” Jaitley expressed.

He also declared a cash award of ₹5 lakh for the North Zone team, led by Akash Rawal, who emerged victorious in the JK Bose Inter-Zonal T20 Cricket Tournament. “In light of the North Zone's triumph, I am pleased to announce a cash prize of ₹5 lakh for the winning team,” he stated.

During the event, the DDCA honored India Women’s World Cup champion Pratika Rawal with a remarkable ₹51 lakh reward and recognized India U-19 Men's World Cup team member Uddhav Mohan with an award of ₹11 lakh.

The four-day Golden Jubilee convention, organized by the Delhi Sports Journalists Association (DSJA), gathered sports media professionals from across the nation for discussions, competitions, and networking opportunities.

On the inaugural day of the Convention, Smt Raksha Khadse, Minister of State (MoS) at the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, along with sports secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, addressed the attending journalists from all over the country.

On Saturday, journalists engaged in a special session with Member of Parliament and former Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur.

The program also included a significant sports conclave featuring International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice President and Rajya Sabha MP Rajiv Shukla, and Archery Association of India Honorary Secretary General Virendra Sachdeva.

Numerous dignitaries and stakeholders from both sports and corporate spheres were recognized during the final day of the convention. Honorees included Svayam Founder Sminu Jindal, Adimazes Founder Akhilesh Yadav, WordsWork Communications Consulting Founder and CEO Neha Mathur Rastogi, RPL Industries Chairman Rakesh Mishra, and Rajasthan United Football Club (RUFC) Chairman Krishan Kumar Tak.

Additionally, the SJFI President and Secretary acknowledged Sangeeta Baroova, the inaugural woman President of the Sports Journalist Federation of India, and honored 18 state presidents and secretaries.

“Hosting the Golden Jubilee convention in our capital has been a significant privilege for the DSJA,” remarked Abhishek Tripathi, President of the Delhi Sports Journalist Association. “Our aim was to foster an environment where our fraternity could celebrate its legacy while also enjoying the sports we cover regularly.”

President of the Sports Journalist Federation of India, Saraju Chakraborty, commented, “Reaching fifty years is a testament to the endurance of sports journalism in India. This convention not only celebrated our past but also paved the way for a forward-thinking future.”

Sabi Hussain, Secretary of the Delhi Sports Journalist Association, expressed gratitude to the sponsors, noting that organizing a four-day event of this scale would not have been feasible without the backing of partners from across the sports and corporate domains.

In sports results, the North Zone triumphed in the JK Bose Inter-Zonal T20 Cricket Tournament, defeating the East Zone by 10 wickets. The East Zone scored 135/6 in 20 overs, with Pranab Shil contributing an unbeaten 47. The North Zone successfully chased the target in just 9.5 overs, led by Rishabh Singh’s unbeaten 87. In another match, the West Zone outplayed the South Zone by 10 wickets, bowling them out for just 97.

The AC Bali Table Tennis Tournament also showcased fierce competition, with Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai-1 claiming the team championship. Amol Karhadkar won the men’s singles title and paired with Ashwin to secure the men’s doubles title as well.

The evening concluded with a dinner hosted by DDCA President Rohan Jaitley, marking a celebratory end to the landmark Golden Jubilee convention.