Anurag Thakur Takes Charge as Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association President
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], October 5: Anurag Thakur, the former Union Sports Minister, has been elected as the President of the Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association (HPOA) during the Annual General Meeting held on Sunday.
The AGM witnessed enthusiastic participation from members statewide, marking a pivotal moment as a new executive team was appointed for the upcoming term.
Thakur's election as President was unanimous, and the newly formed Executive Committee comprises 17 members. He previously held the position of President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2015 to 2017 and served as the Union Minister of Sports from 2021 to 2024.
Virendra Kanwar, the outgoing President, has been appointed as the Chief Patron of the HPOA. MLA Balbir Verma will serve as the Senior Vice President, while Rajesh Bhandari and Amitabh Sharma take on the roles of General Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.
In addition to Balbir Verma, Ishwar Rohal, Usha Barowalia, and Narendra Atri will act as Vice Presidents. The Joint Secretaries include Raj Kumar Nittu, Rahul Pathania, and Ramesh Chauhan.
During his address, President Anurag Thakur shared his vision for the Association, focusing on enhancing sports infrastructure throughout the state and increasing the number of qualified coaches for Olympic sports. He stressed the need to promote grassroots involvement to cultivate young talent and develop a self-sufficient model for managing Olympic sports in Himachal Pradesh.
Thakur also pointed out the state's unique advantages as a natural center for high-altitude and endurance sports, advocating for sports to be prioritized in the state's development agenda. He congratulated the newly elected officials and expressed his belief that they would work together to advance sports in Himachal Pradesh, ensuring a transparent and effective administration.