TASK FOR THAKUR
   Date :10-Jul-2021

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ON THE eve of the Tokyo Olympics, India has witnessed a change in the Sports Ministry with Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur replacing Mr. Kiran Rijiju at the helm of the ministry. During his tenure, Mr. Rijiju was instrumental in bringing many changes in the working style of national sports bodies and the significant was the transformation of atmosphere in the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres. The SAI is the nursery and honing ground for India’s medal hopefuls.
 
That it remained engulfed in many a controversy was a sad commentary on the administrators’ apathy over the years. Taking the overall scenario into consideration, Mr. Rijiju deserves accolades for putting the house in order. Taking the good work to the next level will be the first and foremost task for Mr. Thakur. He comes into the ministry with a rich experience of sports administration. He was the man behind making Dharamsala an international cricket venue and later helmed the BCCI before the Lodha Committee reforms forced him to quit the Board. As the Sports Minister, the biggest challenge for Mr. Thakur will be to look beyond cricket and help its other poor cousins to find a level field.