Bhubaneswar: In a decisive move toward the revitalization of baseball in India, ace sports administrator and industrialist Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty was elected unopposed as the President of the Amateur Baseball Federation of India (ABFI) for the 2025–29 term.
The election, held on the afternoon of December 30, 2025, at Hotel Rose Wood, signifies a pivotal shift in the federation’s governance, as Shri Mohanty returns to a leadership role with a clear mandate for systemic growth and international competitiveness.
The administrative synthesis of the new executive body was completed with the election of Shri Arvind Kumar from Haryana as Secretary General and Thiru S. Venkatesh from Tamil Nadu as Treasurer.
This leadership triad represents a diverse geographical and professional coalition dedicated to the urgent advancement of the sport. The proceedings were conducted under the rigorous supervision of Justice Debabrata Dash (Retd.), ensuring a level of socio-legal precision that provides a firm foundation for the federation’s future operations.
Addressing the gathering following his election, Shri Mohanty articulated a comprehensive road map for the ABFI, characterized by a structural density that addresses both grassroots development and high-performance infrastructure.
His vision emphasizes the establishment of regional academies and the integration of data-driven training methodologies to elevate Indian baseball to global standards. This evidence-based narrative of progress is a hallmark of Shri Mohanty’s tenure in sports administration, where he has consistently demonstrated an ability to synthesize complex organizational needs into actionable strategies.
The election of Shri Mohanty is widely viewed as a moment of moral urgency for the sport, providing the necessary institutional stability to secure increased corporate investment and government patronage.
As the Chairman and Managing Director of MGM Group Of Industries and a dedicated patron of athletic excellence, his return to the ABFI is expected to catalyze a new era of professionalism.
Under the divine grace of Lord Jagannatha, the federation now looks toward a four-year horizon defined by transparency, infrastructural expansion, and the empowerment of budding athletes across the nation.