385 Players Receive Sports Kits Under Khelega Himachal, Khilega Himachal Initiative; MP Calls for Sports Grounds at Panchayat Level and Appointment of Trained Coaches
Hamirpur, October 18, 2026:
Former Union Minister for Sports and Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur distributed sports kits to 385 players at the Khelega Himachal, Khilega Himachal programme held at Bachat Bhawan, Hamirpur, on Sunday. Organised under the aegis of Nehru Yuva Kendra, the initiative aimed to engage young people in sports, expand sports facilities in rural areas and encourage a healthy lifestyle free from substance abuse. The kits included equipment for badminton, volleyball, basketball and other sports.
MLA Ashish Sharma, MLA Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, District BJP President Rakesh Thakur, former MLAs Baldev Sharma and Urmil Thakur, Dr Anil Dhiman and other dignitaries attended the programme. Players and BJP workers welcomed Anurag Thakur.
Government Must Release Pending Incentives for Athletes
Anurag Thakur urged the state government to release pending incentive payments to medal-winning athletes without further delay. He said it was unfortunate that players in Himachal Pradesh had not received their incentives since 2018. The government has a responsibility to honour athletes who have brought laurels to the state and the country through their hard work, talent and dedication. Athletes should not be made to wait for years to receive the incentives they are entitled to.
He stressed that sports must be kept above politics and that athletes should be provided with better facilities, quality training and timely incentives. Expressing concern over the state of sports infrastructure, he said that despite the availability of resources, several areas continued to lack essential facilities such as indoor stadiums, synthetic tracks and other sporting infrastructure.
He called upon the state government to address the shortage of playgrounds and ensure the appointment of trained coaches across different sporting disciplines. This, he said, would give talented youngsters from rural areas equal opportunities to develop their skills and compete at higher levels.
Sports Grounds to Be Developed at Panchayat Level
The MP said efforts would be made to develop sports grounds at the panchayat level across Hamirpur district to promote grassroots sports. He appealed to panchayat representatives to facilitate the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) wherever land was available for the construction of playgrounds. This would enable young people to practise and develop their sporting abilities within their own villages and panchayats.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Fit India Movement had significantly raised awareness about fitness and encouraged people, particularly young people, to adopt healthier lifestyles. Sports instil discipline, teamwork and positive thinking while playing an important role in keeping youth away from substance abuse and other social evils.
He added that the Central Government had taken steps to provide better opportunities to athletes by increasing the sports budget. The proposed Commonwealth Games in India in 2030 would offer another opportunity to showcase the country’s sporting capabilities and strengthen its international standing.
Strengthen Existing Administrative Infrastructure Before Creating New Districts
Responding to a question about the creation of new districts in Himachal Pradesh, Anurag Thakur said that forming new districts solely for political gains would not be appropriate. Before any new district is created, adequate financial resources, staff, offices and essential administrative facilities must be ensured.
He pointed out that several existing blocks and subdivisions themselves lacked adequate facilities. The priority, therefore, should be to strengthen the existing administrative infrastructure. Any expansion of administrative units must be guided by the objective of improving public convenience and delivering better services to citizens.
Targets Opposition Over Protests in Delhi
Reacting to the ongoing protests in Delhi, Anurag Thakur alleged that certain political forces were blaming the Election Commission for their electoral defeats in an attempt to dislodge the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. He claimed that elements seeking to weaken the country politically and economically were also active behind such movements.
Referring to the developments surrounding Anna Hazare’s movement and the subsequent formation of the Aam Aadmi Party, he accused some individuals associated with the movement of promoting political disorder and alleged that some were later involved in scandals after coming to power.
He said the right to protest was an important part of democracy, but it was equally necessary to examine the objectives of any movement and the political motives behind it.
Concluding the programme, Anurag Thakur appealed to sports organisations, panchayat representatives and young people to work together to strengthen the sporting culture in Himachal Pradesh. He said that robust sports infrastructure, trained coaches and timely incentives could create better opportunities for the state’s talented athletes to excel at national and international levels.
Thakur
385 Players Receive Sports Kits Under Khelega Himachal, Khilega Himachal Initiative; MP Calls for Sports Grounds at Panchayat Level and Appointment of Trained Coaches
Hamirpur, October 18, 2026:
Former Union Minister for Sports and Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur distributed sports kits to 385 players at the Khelega Himachal, Khilega Himachal programme held at Bachat Bhawan, Hamirpur, on Sunday. Organised under the aegis of Nehru Yuva Kendra, the initiative aimed to engage young people in sports, expand sports facilities in rural areas and encourage a healthy lifestyle free from substance abuse. The kits included equipment for badminton, volleyball, basketball and other sports.
MLA Ashish Sharma, MLA Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, District BJP President Rakesh Thakur, former MLAs Baldev Sharma and Urmil Thakur, Dr Anil Dhiman and other dignitaries attended the programme. Players and BJP workers welcomed Anurag Thakur.
Government Must Release Pending Incentives for Athletes
Anurag Thakur urged the state government to release pending incentive payments to medal-winning athletes without further delay. He said it was unfortunate that players in Himachal Pradesh had not received their incentives since 2018. The government has a responsibility to honour athletes who have brought laurels to the state and the country through their hard work, talent and dedication. Athletes should not be made to wait for years to receive the incentives they are entitled to.
He stressed that sports must be kept above politics and that athletes should be provided with better facilities, quality training and timely incentives. Expressing concern over the state of sports infrastructure, he said that despite the availability of resources, several areas continued to lack essential facilities such as indoor stadiums, synthetic tracks and other sporting infrastructure.
He called upon the state government to address the shortage of playgrounds and ensure the appointment of trained coaches across different sporting disciplines. This, he said, would give talented youngsters from rural areas equal opportunities to develop their skills and compete at higher levels.
Sports Grounds to Be Developed at Panchayat Level
The MP said efforts would be made to develop sports grounds at the panchayat level across Hamirpur district to promote grassroots sports. He appealed to panchayat representatives to facilitate the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) wherever land was available for the construction of playgrounds. This would enable young people to practise and develop their sporting abilities within their own villages and panchayats.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Fit India Movement had significantly raised awareness about fitness and encouraged people, particularly young people, to adopt healthier lifestyles. Sports instil discipline, teamwork and positive thinking while playing an important role in keeping youth away from substance abuse and other social evils.
He added that the Central Government had taken steps to provide better opportunities to athletes by increasing the sports budget. The proposed Commonwealth Games in India in 2030 would offer another opportunity to showcase the country’s sporting capabilities and strengthen its international standing.
Strengthen Existing Administrative Infrastructure Before Creating New Districts
Responding to a question about the creation of new districts in Himachal Pradesh, Anurag Thakur said that forming new districts solely for political gains would not be appropriate. Before any new district is created, adequate financial resources, staff, offices and essential administrative facilities must be ensured.
He pointed out that several existing blocks and subdivisions themselves lacked adequate facilities. The priority, therefore, should be to strengthen the existing administrative infrastructure. Any expansion of administrative units must be guided by the objective of improving public convenience and delivering better services to citizens.
Targets Opposition Over Protests in Delhi
Reacting to the ongoing protests in Delhi, Anurag Thakur alleged that certain political forces were blaming the Election Commission for their electoral defeats in an attempt to dislodge the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. He claimed that elements seeking to weaken the country politically and economically were also active behind such movements.
Referring to the developments surrounding Anna Hazare’s movement and the subsequent formation of the Aam Aadmi Party, he accused some individuals associated with the movement of promoting political disorder and alleged that some were later involved in scandals after coming to power.
He said the right to protest was an important part of democracy, but it was equally necessary to examine the objectives of any movement and the political motives behind it.
Concluding the programme, Anurag Thakur appealed to sports organisations, panchayat representatives and young people to work together to strengthen the sporting culture in Himachal Pradesh. He said that robust sports infrastructure, trained coaches and timely incentives could create better opportunities for the state’s talented athletes to excel at national and international levels.
