Hamirpur/Himachal Pradesh, June 22, 2017: Today, a new dawn of hope has smiled upon Himachal Pradesh with the torch run of the one-of-its kind State Olympic Games reaching the games city Hamirpur to a massive outpour of local youth. Led by 3rd time MP from Hamirpur, Sh. Anurag Thakur, the visionary president of Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association (HPOA), Global Wrestling Icon The Great Khali and India’s Pride Olympian Vijay Kumar, the torch run saw 10,000 youth joining them as it traversed the city spreading the inspiring slogan “Khelega Yuva, Jeetega Himachal”.

The Great Khali, Hon’able Governor Acharya Devvrat and Anurag Thakur during HP State Olympic Games

Expressing his sentiments on the inauguration day of the Himachal Pradesh State Olympic Games, Sh. Anurag Thakur, President, HPOA said, “We have launched the HP Olympic games to herald in a sporting culture at state level which is unparalleled. I am passionate about sports and I want the next Olympian to be from Himachal. The sole objective of these games is to make the state’s youth aware of the endless possibilities that sports offer and inspire them to take to sports in a big way. These games will be the wind beneath the wings of the youth as they aim to fly high in the field of sports. Through the slogan of “Khelega Yuva, Jeetega Himachal”, we want to inspire youth of the state to be successful in life and bring laurels to the country and the state of Himachal Pradesh.”

Over the last few years, while sporting development in India gathered momentum, Himachal Pradesh seemed to lag behind. Last November, Sh. Anurag Thakur, who had earlier changed the face of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association and taken it to unfathomable heights, took charge as the president of Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association (HPOA). At that time, he promised to turn Himachal Pradesh into the shining star on India’s Sporting landscape. Within months, Sh. Thakur and his team at HPOA are ready to leave giant footprints on the country’s sporting scene with the roll-out of the pioneering Himachal Pradesh State Olympic Games.

The torch run for the games began from Shimla on 17th June and reached Hamirpur today. In Hamirpur, the locals enthusiastically joined in on the run led by Sh. Thakur, The Great Khali and Vijay Kumar. The torch’s flame lit a fire in the belly of the city’s youth as wave after wave of youngster took to the streets of Hamirpur to be a part of this iconic rally.

The torch run was also joined by Olympian Padma Shree Vijay Kumar as he along with Sh. Anurag Thakur and Hon’able Governor Acharya Dev Vrat led the torch run towards Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Hamirpur which was the venue of the inauguration ceremony of the Himachal Pradesh State Olympic Games.

On course to the inauguration ceremony, the torch run participants were showered with flower petals as the people of Himachal realised the positive winds of change that this rally signified.

Tags: Anurag Thakur, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, HP Olympic Games, HPOA, Sports, The Great Khali