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. He was 87.
According to family members, Ghosh breathed his last at around 10.45 pm. His death marks the end of a long and influential chapter in Bengal sport, spanning competitive play, administration and grassroots development.
From hockey goalkeeper to trusted administrator
Though Ghosh later became synonymous with sports administration, his journey began on the field. Trained as a hockey player, he represented Bengal at the national level and played as a goalkeeper for leading city clubs including Mohun Bagan, East Indian Railway and Customs.
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He was part of teams that featured some of Indian hockey’s biggest names, including Keshav Dutt, Leslie Claudius and Gurubux Singh. Ghosh also had a Beighton Cup title to his credit, a prized achievement in Calcutta hockey.
Despite his hockey roots, his lasting impact came off the field.
Shaping Bengal sport, especially table tennis
Ghosh went on to build a distinguished career as a sports administrator, becoming closely associated with the Bengal Olympic Association. Serving as its treasurer, he earned widespread respect for his integrity, organisational clarity and quiet efficiency.
He later headed the state setup for table tennis. For the 1980s and 1990s, it is noteworthy to say that he worked closely with Ravi Chakraborty to run the sport of table tennis in Bengal. Their collaboration is said to be a landmark moment for table tennis.
In their tenure, many names came forward at the national level, such as Ganesh Kundu, Arup Basak, Kishalay Basak, Nupur Santra, Mantu Ghosh, Anindita Chakraborty, Poulomi Ghatak and Mouma Das.
Apart from the sporting arena, Ghosh was also a part of Sutanuti Parishad, a factor that demonstrates the strong connections he had within the cultural spectrum of north Kolkata.
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A quiet force in the Maidan
Ghosh’s passing has left the Maidan and Bengal’s sporting community in deep mourning. Ghosh was known for working behind the scenes and was considered to be a man who valued institutions over individuals and development over recognition.
His colleagues and former players describe him as a rare type of administrator who had a player’s perspective and an organiser’s discipline.
