IAS officer with a versatile outlook and sports background, Dr Rajiv Kumar, who is also the Managing Director of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development corporation (HPTDC), was unanimously elected the President of Himachal Pradesh State Judo Association at the elections held in Shimla on Saturday. Surender Thakur was elected as General Secretary of the Association. All the office-bearers of the HP State Judo Association were elected unanimously.

Newly elected association President Dr Rajiv Kumar and other office-bearers said the Association would approach the state government to promote the sport in all the schools and colleges in Himachal Pradesh. The Association said it would urge the Chief Minister to provide judo mats and give more facilities to the players in the state. It decided to proceed with the pending issues of the Association, authorising the newly elected Senior Vice President, Ramesh Chauhan, to take them up with the Youth Services and Sports department.

It is pertinent to mention that Dr Rajiv kumar, Ph.D in Business Administration, has earlier served as Director, Youth Services and Sports in Himachal Pradesh. He is a national-level shooter in 10-metre air pistol and 25-metre standard pistol, and a medalist at the national and state level. He is practicing shooting for the last ten years. He is the author of four books and figures in the Limca Book of Records in memory (1996 edition).

He is an IAS officer of the 2017 batch. He has previously served in different departments and as a Subdivisional Magistrate at various places as an HAS ( Himachal Administrative Services) officer. He has also worked as a journalist with print and electronic media for five years before entering the administrative services.