Anurag Thakur Takes Charge as President of Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association

BJP Member of Parliament from Hamirpur, Anurag Thakur, has been unanimously elected as the President of the Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association (HPOA). In elections held today, Thakur took over the position from Virender Kanwar, the former Agriculture Minister in the previous BJP government.

Along with Thakur, Rajesh Bhandari was elected as General Secretary, Balbir Verma as Senior Vice President, and Amitabh Sharma as Treasurer. Ishwar Rohl, Usha Barwalia, and Narendra Atri were elected as Vice Presidents, among other office bearers—all unanimously.

Sports administrators and enthusiasts across the state have welcomed Thakur’s return to the HPOA, calling it a positive development for Himachal’s sporting future. Thakur had earlier served as HPOA President for one term before Kanwar’s tenure.

Ishwar Rohl, Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Rifle Association, said, “Anurag Thakur’s leadership marks a turning point for sports in the state. His administrative experience and strong network in the sports ecosystem will inject new energy into Himachal’s sporting landscape.”

In recent years, the state has struggled to make significant progress in sports and has not managed to secure a position among the top 20 states in the National Games. Experts believe that to improve its standing, Himachal must invest heavily in sports infrastructure and coaching facilities.

Rohl added, “The President has asked us to meet the Chief Minister and the Sports Minister to present our demands. His leadership will create the momentum needed to revitalize the state’s inactive sports machinery.”

According to Bhandari, Thakur outlined his top priorities as:

• Strengthening sports infrastructure across the state,
• Increasing the number of qualified coaches for all Olympic disciplines,
• Promoting grassroots participation to nurture young talent, and
• Developing a self-sustaining model for managing and advancing Olympic sports.

Thakur also highlighted Himachal Pradesh’s unique potential in high-altitude and endurance sports, emphasizing the need to make these disciplines a key part of the state’s sports development agenda.