Haryana Minister Krishan Lal Panwar becomes secretary-general
Chandigarh, March 30, 2025 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau) – Nearly ten years after coming to power in Haryana, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has now secured control over the Haryana Olympic Association (HOA). The elections, held unopposed on Saturday at the HOA office in Panchkula, marked a significant shift in the state’s sports administration.
Capt. Meenu Beniwal (Jaswinder Singh), a key strategist behind the BJP-JJP alliance that paved the way for the BJP’s second term in the state, was elected as the new HOA president. Haryana Minister Krishan Lal Panwar took charge as the secretary-general.
Beniwal emphasized transparency and grassroots talent development as top priorities. “Our mission is to realize the vision of PM Narendra Modi Ji, former CM Manohar Lal Khattar Ji, and current CM Nayab Singh Saini Ji by nurturing champions at the international level,” he stated on social media platforms. “We are committed to promoting sports and ensuring holistic development across the state.”
Panwar echoed the sentiment in a social media post, expressing gratitude to the BJP leadership for his appointment and vowing to elevate Haryana’s sports ecosystem.
The HOA has long been a battleground for political influence. Until 2005, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) held sway, followed by a Congress-backed panel during Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s tenure. Legal disputes and internal conflicts plagued the association for years, prompting the state government to appoint an administrator four months ago to oversee operations until fresh elections could be conducted.
The newly formed 17-member executive includes nine vice-presidents—Anil Khatra, Jitender, Mukesh Sharma, Sunil Malik, Neeraj Tanwar, Rakesh Singh, Satyapal Sindhu, Mohd. Shayeen, and Bharat Bhushan Juyal. Manjeet Singh was elected treasurer, while Narinder Singh and Ravinder Kumar were named joint secretaries. Surekha, Priya, and Rohit Pundir would serve as executive members.
With the BJP now at the helm, the focus shifts to whether this administrative overhaul would translate into tangible progress for Haryana’s athletes, games and holding competitions.
