After stepping down, Pandey gets big role in HFI
LUCKNOW: Former secretarygeneral of Handball Federation of India Anandeshwar Pandey seems to have “emerged stronger” even after stepping down as vice-president of the sports body earlier this month as he has now been appointed executive director and league coordinator of HFI for a period of three years.
The elevation of Pandey also appears to be a big “setback” to a few key officials of the Indian Olympic Association, who have allegedly been trying to dislodge the veteran sports administrator from HFI.
“With the sincere advice of secretary-general and all office bearers of Handball Federation of India, I am pleased to nominate you as executive director and league coordinator of Handball Federation of India with the immediate effect for the period of three years,” HFI president A Jaganmohan Rao wrote to Pandey. “I am sure the Handball Federation of India will benefit from your vast experience,” he further stated in his letter.
Top officials of HFI, including president A Jaganmohan Rao, secretary-general Pritpal Singh Saluja and treasurer Vinay Singh, held an online meeting with all the stakeholders and, after getting a confirmation from them, handed over the letter of appointment to Pandey at his place here in Lucknow.
“In fact, the online meeting was conducted only for this purpose and all the office bearers were present in Lucknow,” said Pandey, adding, “I am happy to accept the new responsibility and I am sure to do well for the HFI with full sincerity and dedication.”
Pandey, who is treasurer of the Indian Olympic Association and secretary-general of the Uttar Pradesh Handball Association, stepped down from the post of HFI vice-president early this month after the sports ministry, in its letter dated January 5, 2021 , told the HFI that no person who has already held the office of president or secretary general/ treasurer or both in a NSF (national sports federation) consecutively for a period of two terms or eight years shall be eligible for re-election without a cooling-off period of one term.
“Hence, the election of Anandeshwar
Pandey as vice president is in violation of the provisions of this ministry’s above referred letter dated September 20, 1975. Hence, he may be directed to demit the office,” the sports ministry letter had said.
In fact, repercussions of this letter of the ministry might pose a challenge for many other national sports federations, which are not in compliance with the sports code.
“There are plenty of NSFs, who have such office-bearers and, if the order is applicable on HFI, this would also be applicable on them also,” said an NSF secretary on condition of anonymity.
He, however, said that sports ministry should make provisions for the stay of “sports veterans” so that NSFs could take benefit of their experiences and make their presence felt at the international level too.