States » NorthPosted at: Oct 18 2026 11:04PM


Release Pending Incentives for Medal-Winning Athletes; Players Have Been Waiting Since 2018: Anurag Singh Thakur

Hamirpur, Oct 18 (UNI) Former union Minister for Sports and Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur on Sunday urged the state government to release pending incentives to medal winning athletes of the state.
He was speaking at a function to distribute sports kits to 385 players at the 'Khelega Himachal, Khilega Himachal' programme held at Bachat Bhawan here.
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.
Thakur 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Tags: #Release Pending Incentives for Medal-Winning Athletes; Players Have Been Waiting Since 2018: Anurag Singh Thakur
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