Latest news with #AnandeshwarPandey
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Pandey quits UPHA, Amit new executive secy
1 2 3 Lucknow: Anandeshwar Pandey, secretary-general of the Uttar Pradesh Handball Association (UPHA), has decided to step down from his position. This decision was unanimously accepted during the executive committee meeting of the UPHA held on Sunday at KD Singh Babu Stadium. Pandey holds multiple important roles, including secretary-general of the South Asian Handball Federation, executive director of Handball Association India (HAI) and secretary-general of the Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association. He shared that he will now focus fully on elevating handball to new heights across the country and accelerating the Olympic movement within Uttar Pradesh. Following this, a proposal to appoint Amit Pandey from Varanasi as the executive secretary was put forward by joint secretary Parmendra Singh and unanimously approved by all members. Amit, who is the President of the Varanasi District Handball Association, has been serving as the organizing secretary of the state association until now. Alongside this, the executive committee also unanimously approved several other appointments. Among them, Parmendra Singh from Ayodhya will now serve as the organizing secretary and chairman of the referee board.
Hans India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
HFI chief on India-Pakistan handball clash: 'Nation comes first, but we need clear guidelines'
Following India's recent handball match against Pakistan at the Asian Beach Championships in Muscat on Friday, Anandeshwar Pandey, Executive Director of the Handball Federation of India (HFI), addressed the controversy surrounding the decision to play the fixture. The match, held as part of the league phase of an ongoing international tournament, sparked debate due to the political sensitivities involved. Pandey clarified that the tournament schedule was finalised four months in advance and that the federation had proactively sought guidance from the Indian government. 'We had written to the government, the Sports Ministry, and the Indian Olympic Association seeking clarity on whether we should play against Pakistan,' he told IANS. 'However, we received no response from any of them.' With no formal directive in place, the HFI faced pressure from the International Handball Federation (IHF), which reportedly warned of sanctions if India refused to participate. 'In the absence of clear directives, we were compelled to proceed with the match,' Pandey explained. 'The IHF even threatened us with a ban.' Pandey emphasised that the match was part of the league phase and that going forward, the federation would abide by any official stance issued by the government. 'If our Sports Ministry provides clear instructions, we will not play against Pakistan again,' he said, reaffirming the HFI's nationalistic stance. 'For us, the nation comes first. We are ready to face any consequences, including a ban, but we need proper and timely guidance from the authorities.' The statement highlights a growing concern among sports administrators about the lack of timely communication from governing bodies on sensitive geopolitical issues. As international sporting events become increasingly complex, federations like the HFI are calling for more structured policies and support from the government to navigate such challenges. India on Saturday said that Pakistan was escalating tensions along the Western border by moving troops into forward areas, suggesting an offensive intent to intensify hostilities. The Indian armed forces, while reaffirming their commitment to non-escalation, asserted that any further provocation would be met with proportionate and decisive action. At a press briefing on 'Operation Sindoor', Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, joined by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Indian Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, said, "The Pakistan military has been observed moving its troops into forward areas, indicating an offensive intent to further escalate the situation. Indian armed forces remain in a high state of operational readiness. All hostile actions have been effectively countered and responded to appropriately." "Indian armed forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is reciprocated by the Pakistan military," she added.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Under protest, Indian team plays Pakistan in Asian handball
Representative Image India played Pakistan in the 10th Asian Beach Handball Championships in Oman's Muscat on Friday amid a widening conflict between the two countries. The Indians wore black armbands during the league fixture, but were told by the organisers and Asian Handball Federation ( AHF ) to remove them, sources told TOI. The organisers told the Indian coaching staff that such a gesture would lead to the removal of the team from the tournament. The Indian contingent had at first considered boycotting the fixture due to fears of public backlash at home, but decided to go ahead after AHF warned it of a ban and a significant fine. Operation Sindoor India's air defence systems shoot down Pak drones in J&K, Punjab & Rajasthan India-Pakistan tensions: Delhi airport issues travel advisory Operation Sindoor: Multiple explosions heard at several Pakistan air bases 'As per the International Handball Federation's (IHF) charter, we would have to pay a fine of $10,000 if we boycotted the match. We also faced the prospect of a two-year ban from international competitions. The AHF told us categorically that if the Indian team didn't turn up for the match, it would be counted against the spirit of Olympic charter . We were left with no other option,' Anandeshwar Pandey, Executive Director of the Handball Federation of India (HFI), told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo India lost the pool match 0-2 at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. 'Before the start of the match, the HFI had written separate letters to the sports ministry and Indian Olympic Association (IOA), seeking their guidance whether we should play Pakistan or not. They didn't immediately respond to our mail and the match was upon us. There's no clear advisory from the govt which stops the Indian teams from playing Pakistan. Had there been one, we would have pulled the team out of the competition. 'The entries for the event were sent months in advance and the Indian men's and women's teams had landed in Muscat for the tournament on May 5. We didn't know that the situation between the two nations would turn hostile. There's a possibility that the two teams might meet each other again in the same event, at the semifinal or final stage. We are awaiting the ministry and IOA's advisory on this. If it doesn't come in the coming days, we will tell our team to forfeit the next match against Pakistan, if it happens at all,' added Pandey. The final of the tournament will be played on May 15. The competition will serve as a qualification tournament for the Beach Handball World Championship in 2026.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
UP sub-jr girlshandball teamwin bronze
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh team delivered a strong performance at the 39th National Sub-Junior Girls Handball Championship , securing the bronze medal. Held under the auspices of the Handball Association India in Mandya district, Karnataka, from April 30 to May 4, the championship saw Uttar Pradesh sharing third place with Yashasvi Handball Academy (Delhi). Anandeshwar Pandey, general secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Handball Association, reported that UP lost the semifinal to Gujarat by 32-22. Though the Uttar Pradesh players displayed fast-paced gameplay, Gujarat clinched the victory through superior strategy. Earlier, UP reached the semifinals by defeating Himachal Pradesh 19-17 in the quarterfinals and Aryavart Sports Academy 23-10 in the pre-quarterfinals. Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh team delivered a strong performance at the 39th National Sub-Junior Girls Handball Championship, securing the bronze medal. Held under the auspices of the Handball Association India in Mandya district, Karnataka, from April 30 to May 4, the championship saw Uttar Pradesh sharing third place with Yashasvi Handball Academy (Delhi). Anandeshwar Pandey, general secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Handball Association, reported that UP lost the semifinal to Gujarat by 32-22. Though the Uttar Pradesh players displayed fast-paced gameplay, Gujarat clinched the victory through superior strategy. Earlier, UP reached the semifinals by defeating Himachal Pradesh 19-17 in the quarterfinals and Aryavart Sports Academy 23-10 in the pre-quarterfinals.
