Eminent Sports journalist Krishan Datta passed away at the age of 93 at his south Delhi residence on Saturday morning. Datta served as Sports Editor of The Times of India and after his retirement continued with his passion of sports journalism by featuring in several magazines, online sports platforms and newspaper including The Pioneer.
Datta recently was honoured for significant contribution in the field of sports journalism from the prestigious Delhi Sports Journalist Association and DDCA. Datta gained more popularity for his regular column ‘Different Strokes’ which appeared for about three decades.
Datta is survived by wife Santosh, two daughters Aradhana and Vandana and a son, Rahul, who is also a veteran journalist. Rahul said that his father passed away peacefully and that his body has been donated to AIIMS for organs and sources at AIIMS ORBO said that first beneficiary of his body will be a child who will get skin replacement from the deceased cadaver.
“My father’s dedication to journalism has inspired us all, and we are immensely proud of his lifelong commitment. Feel proud to see several sports journalist today walking his path and we shall ever cherish the moments when several top sports personalities including cricketers used to visit our home to meet my father,” grief-stricken Datta said.
In his condolence, former Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Ajay Maken too to social media and said “the doyen of Indian sports journalism, Shri K Datta passed away. Our generation grew up reading his splendid byline analysis on the Sports pages of The Times Of India. It’s a significant loss to journalism and sports-loving people across the Nation. May his soul rest in peace”.