Kolkata, Mar 27 (IANS): Salil Naha, a former sports reporter with The Statesman, passed away Wednesday morning following a massive heart attack.

Naha, 64, is survived by his wife and a son.

Naha, who spent more than 30 years with The Statesman, was asked to join Dainik Statesman - the group's Bengali newspaper when it was launched in 2004. He stayed on till 2009.

His penchant was to support sports like volleyball, basketball, kabaddi, kho-kho, table tennis. He loved to cover hockey the most.

He knew everybody in hockey circles and was a regular at all matches. In fact, the Kolkata press lived out of his hand when it came to hockey news!

Naha was also associated with the Aajkaal group. When the group launched the eveninger Sandhya Aajkaal, he became a part of the sports editorial team.

On leaving Dainik Statesman, Salil Naha joined as sports editor of the newly launched Pratyahik Khabor till it went out of circulation.

Naha also served the Calcutta Sports Journalists' Club (CSJC) as its vice president and council member.

Calcutta Sports Journalists' Club president S. Sabanayakan and Bengal Hockey Association secretary Salil Basu visited Naha's home and paid their last respects.