The Sports Journalists’ Federation of India (SJFI) felicitated Sabanayakan Selvakumaraswamy on June 6, 2026, on the eve of the Federation’s Annual General Meeting in Agartala, Tripura. The felicitation marked his landmark election to the highest policy-making Executive Committee of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) at the famous Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, on April 12, 2026. Incidentally, Lausanne is also the global headquarters of AIPS.

SJFI President, Saraju Chakraborty of the Tripura Sports Journalists’ Club, did the honors on behalf of the Federation. He presented Sabanayakan with a traditional shawl, a memento, and a plaque in front of a distinguished gathering of delegates from the state-affiliated units who arrived to attend the AGM. Among the notable local dignitaries present was Sri Mantu Debnath, the first gymnast from Tripura to win the prestigious Arjuna Award in 1975.

Joint Secretary of the Federation, Partha Chakraborty of Assam SJA, and Treasurer, Sanjay Gharpure of SJA of Mumbai, were also present at the time of the felicitation. The programme was filled with immense warmth and professional camaraderie. Sabanayakan concluded the session with a passionate speech thanking the SJFI, its Executive Committee members, and all affiliated units whose unconditional support helped put SJFI firmly on the AIPS global map.

The dream of gaining a place in the AIPS Executive Committee originally took shape when Sabanayakan first attended the AIPS Congress as the SJFI President back in 2009. Driven by the active support and encouragement of G. Viswanath of SJAM and Subodh Malla Barua of ASJA, he built lasting friendships and trust among international delegates—and most importantly with the President of the AIPS, Mr. Gianni Merlo, and Secretary General, Mr. Jura Ozmec—before launching into the highly successful AIPS election cycle.