Kathmandu: Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) dedicated this year’s World Sports Journalists Day to the memory of the late Kshitij Arun Shrestha, one of the founding members of the organisation.

NSJF, the umbrella body of sports journalists working across the country, organised a condolence program at its office in Tripureshwar on the occasion of World Sports Journalists Day, observed annually on July 2.

Shrestha had passed away on June 22 at the age of 55.

“We chose not to celebrate this year’s World Sports Journalists Day in order to honor the late Shrestha and his contributions,” said NSJF acting president Prajwal Oli.

Following the condolence program, a team led by Oli visited the Kriyaputri Bhawan in Shova Bhagwati to offer sympathies to Shrestha’s family.

Meanwhile, NSJF also extended financial support to Shrestha’s family. The funds were raised internally from members, well-wishers, and the NSJF’s own resources. Shrestha’s wife Manju Tuladhar expressed her gratitude for the support.

Shrestha was among the 11 founding members who established the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum in 1995. An active photojournalist at the time, he also served as the founding president of the Nepal Olympic Museum.

Shrestha was survived by his wife, daughter and mother.