Former Union Minister Anurag Thakur Elected President of Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association

Shimla (The Uttam Hindu): The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association (HPOA) was held today with great participation and enthusiasm from members across the state. The meeting marked a significant occasion with the election of a new team of office bearers to lead the Association into its next term.

In a unanimous decision, former Union Sports Minister Shri Anurag Thakur was elected as the President of the Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association. The newly elected executive body comprises 17 members (as per the list enclosed).

Prominent office bearers elected include:

Sh Virender Kanwar out going president was unanimously nominated Chief Patron of HPOA.

Senior Vice President: MLA Shri Balbeer Verma

General Secretary: Shri Rajesh Bandari

Vice Presidents: Shri Ishwar Rohal, Smt. Usha Barowalia, and Shri Narender Attri

Joint Secretaries: Shri Raj Kumar Nittu, Dr. Rahul Pathania, and Shri Ramesh Chauhan

Addressing the gathering, President Shri Anurag Thakur outlined the key priorities for the Association, emphasizing the need to:

Strengthen sports infrastructure across the state

Increase the number of qualified coaches to train athletes in all Olympic disciplines

Promote grassroots participation to nurture young talent

Build a self-sustaining model for the development and management of Olympic sports in Himachal Pradesh

He also highlighted the unique potential of Himachal Pradesh as a natural hub for high-altitude and endurance sports, stressing that these disciplines should be given special priority in the state’s sports development agenda.

Shri Thakur congratulated all the newly elected office bearers and expressed confidence that the team will work collectively towards the betterment of sports in Himachal Pradesh, ensuring transparent, effective, and forward-looking sports governance.