NEW DELHI: India's biggest and brightest sporting stars will be under one roof at the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2023 which will be held in Lucknow on February 23, 2024.
Honouring the top Indian athletes and their relentless pursuit for excellence, the sixth edition of TOISA will be award the stars who shone the brightest in 2023.
The theme of the awards -- #MoreSweatMoreGlory -- is a tribute to the indomitable spirit of our athletes and para-athletes across different sports.
The assessment period for the awards was from January 1 to December 31, 2023 and the list of award winners was drawn by the eminent TOISA 2023 Jury chaired by Adille Sumariwalla, who heads the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and is the vice-president of World Athletics.
Under the chairmanship of Adille, the TOISA 2023 Jury comprised of former long-jumper and senior vice-president of AFI, Anju Bobby George; badminton coach and two-time Padma awardee Pullela Gopichand; Olympic medal-winning wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt; Olympic medallist shooter and Indian Olympic Association vice-president Gagan Narang; Paralympic medallist and Padma Shri awardee Deepa Malik; Olympic medal-winning weightlifter Karnam Malleswari; and Zafar Iqbal, member of India's gold medal-winning hockey team at the 1980 Olympics.
Here's a look at the football stars (men and women) nominated for the award.
Lallianzuala ChhangteDate of Birth: June 8, 1997
Place of Birth: Lunglei, Mizoram
Sport: Football
Major Achievements in 2023:o Lallianzuala Chhangte scored 4 goals for India in 11 matches in 2023.
o Since his debut as a teenager in 2015, Lallianzuala Chhangte has been erratically a part of the National Team; until 2023.
o Over the last couple of years, the diminutive winger has put in some inspiring performances that have now made him a key member of the Blue Tigers' squad.
o While Chhangte had missed selection for the final squad for the Asian Cup in 2019, his selection for the 2023 edition came as no surprise to anyone.
o Chhangte played a crucial role in helping India win three international trophies, the Tri-Nation Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, and the SAFF Championship in 2023.
Lallianzuala Chhangte began his football career at the youth level in Mizoram and gained attention for his skills. Chhangte has been associated with various football clubs in India and is known for his pace, dribbling ability, and goal-scoring prowess. Chhangte's ISL performances caught the eye, and he became one of the exciting young talents in Indian football. Chhangte's inclusion in the national team is a recognition of his consistent performances at the club level. In 2020, Chhangte made a move to play for Viking FK, a Norwegian football club. This marked a significant step in his career, becoming one of the few Indian players to play for a European club. Chhangte is known for his pace and skill on the wings. He operates as a winger and has the ability to score goals and provide assists.
Naorem Mahesh SinghDate of Birth: March 1, 1999
Place of Birth: Nambol, Manipur
Sport: Football
Major Achievements in 2023:o Naorem Mahesh Singh scored 5 goals for India in 16 matches in 2023.
o In March 2023, Singh was named amongst the eleven reserves for Indian senior squad for Hero Tri-Nation International Football Tournament.
o Five days later, Singh was called up to the Indian senior camp for the first time, in place of Sivasakthi Narayanan, who withdrew through an injury.
o Singh made his debut against Myanmar on March 22, replacing Lallianzuala Chhangte after 70 minutes in a 1–0 victory.
o Singh got his second appearance against Kyrgyzstan on March 28, replacing Brandon Fernandes after 56 minute in a 2–0 victory.
o On June 24, 2023, Singh got his first goal for the national team against Nepal in a 2–0 victory.
o On September 7, Singh scored his second goal in a 2(4)–2(5) semi-final loss against Iraq at the 2023 King's Cup.
o On October 13, Singh got his third goal against Malaysia in the 2023 Merdeka Tournament in a 2–4 loss in the semi-final.
Naorem Mahesh Singh plays as a winger for Indian Super League club East Bengal and the India national team. Singh began his career in his home state with Birchandra Memorial Sporting Club and soon joined the youth side of Shillong Lajong, playing for the club in the Shillong Premier League. Prior to the 2018–19 season, Singh was promoted to the first-team. He made his professional debut for Shillong Lajong on 28 October 2018 against Aizawl. He scored a brace, two goals in the 20th and 51st minutes, as Shillong Lajong won 2–1. In March 2023, Singh was named amongst the eleven reserves for Indian senior squad for the Tri-Nation International Football Tournament. Five days later, he was called up to the Indian senior camp for the first time, in place of Sivasakthi Narayanan, who withdrew through an injury. He made his debut against Myanmar on March 22. Mahesh got his second appearance against Kyrgyzstan on 28 March, replacing Brandon Fernandes after 56 minute in a 2–0 victory.
Sunil ChhetriDate of Birth: August 3, 1984
Place of Birth: Secunderabad
Sport: Football
Major Achievements in 2023:o Sunil Chhetri scored 11 goals for India in 14 matches in 2023.
o On March 28, Chhetri scored his 85th goal against Kyrgyzstan in the tri-nation friendly and overtook Ferenc Puskás to become the fifth-highest international goal-scorer.
o On June 18, Chhetri scored the opening goal of a 2–0 win over Lebanon in the final of the 2023 Hero Intercontinental Cup, contributing decisively to help India win the tournament.
o Chhetri was the joint-top scorer of the 2023 Hero Intercontinental Cup with two goals alongside fellow teammate Lallianzuala Chhangte.
o On June 21, Chhetri scored his 4th hat-trick for India in a 4–0 win over Pakistan in a group stage match of the 2023 SAFF Championship.
o Chhetri's third goal against Pakistan was his 90th international goal, thus overtaking Mokhtar Dahari's tally of 89 goals to become the second-highest Asian goal-scorer in international football, behind Ali Daei of Iran, and the third among active players after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sunil Chhetri began his football career at a young age. Playing as a forward, he is known for his goal-scoring prowess and leadership skills. Making his debut in 2005, he is considered as one of the greatest footballers in Indian history becoming the team's all-time leading goal-scorer. Chhetri has represented India in multiple editions of the AFC Asian Cup and other international tournaments. Chhetri has had stints with various football clubs in India and abroad. Notably, he has been associated with Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL), where he has been a key player and captain. Chhetri has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to Indian football. He has been named AIFF Player of the Year multiple times. Chhetri achieved a significant milestone by becoming the second-highest active international goal-scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo. His dedication and performances have inspired football fans in India. Beyond his playing career, Chhetri is known for his involvement in community initiatives and promoting football at the grassroots level in India.
WomenAnju TamangDate of Birth: December 22, 1995
Place of Birth: Birpara, West Bengal
Sport: Football
Major Achievements in 2023:o Anju Tamang scored 3 goals for India in 2023.
o She first fell in love with football back in her school days while playing against boys in her village.
o Anju was initially a forward, who later moved to a wing-back, and also as a midfielder.
o She has contributed to India winning the SAFF Championship, and also the SAG Games gold medal.
Anju Tamang typically plays as a forward in the attacking positions. She is known for her goal-scoring ability and agility on the field. Anju has been a part of the Indian women's national team and has represented the country in various international competitions. She has been involved in the team's campaigns in events such as the SAFF Women's Championship and AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers. Women like Anju Tamang play a crucial role in the development and progress of women's football in India. Their participation in international tournaments and domestic leagues helps raise the profile of women's football in the country.
Renu RaniDate of Birth: January 16, 2001
Place of Birth: Hissar, Haryana
Sport: Football
Major Achievements in 2023:o Renu Rani scored 2 goals for India in 2023.
o A daughter of daily-wagers, Renu Rani earned her first U16 National team call up in 2016.
o Renu Rani scored five goals in an AFC U-19 Women’s qualifier against Pakistan, a match which India won 18-0.
o Renu Rani scored India's match-winner against Chinese Taipei in a friendly in 2021.
21-year-old Renu Rani is from Haryana and is breaking all kinds of barriers. A daughter of daily-wagers, she earned her first U16 National team call up in 2016. She famously scored five goals in an AFC U-19 Women's qualifier against Pakistan, a match which India won 18-0. She scored India's match-winner against Chinese Taipei in a Friendly in 2021.
Sandhiya Ranganathan
Date of Birth: May 20, 1998
Place of Birth: Panruti, Tamil Nadu
Sport: Football
Major Achievements in 2023:
o Sandhiya Ranganathan scored 3 goals for India in 2023.
o Sandhiya grew up in an orphanage after losing her father at a young age.
o While shuttling between the orphanage, and her school in her formative years, football became Sandhiya's ticket to success.
o In the 2018 COTIF Cup in Spain, Sandhiya scored a brace against Morocco, and then finished as joint top scorer with Ratanbala in the AFC Women's Olympic Qualifier second round.
Sandhiya Ranganathan typically plays as a forward. Her playing style is characterized by her goal-scoring ability and attacking contributions. Sandhiya has represented the Indian women's national football team in international competitions. Sandhiya grew up in an orphanage after losing her father at a young age. While shuttling between the orphanage, and her school in her formative years, football became Sandhiya's ticket to success. In the 2018 COTIF Cup in Spain, she scored a brace against Morocco, and then finished as joint top scorer with Ratanbala in the AFC Women's Olympic Qualifier second round.
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