Times of India Managing Director Vineet Jain's welcome address at Mahindra Scorpio TOISA 2018

NEW DELHI: Here is Times Group Managing Director Vineet Jain's welcome speech at the 2018 Times Of India Sports Awards.


Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Three years ago, the Times of India made a promise to honour Indian sport. We pledged to create an annual national sports award that would truly be the gold standard for Indian sportspersons.

I am delighted and proud that the Times of India Sports Awards - TOISA, in only its third edition, has already become the second most recalled sports award in the country after the Arjuna Awards.

ALSO READ: Srikanth brightest among TOISA 2018 sports winners

To see so many of our top athletes, under the same roof, at the same time, is a feeling that is unparalleled. Where else can you experience this energy!

Ladies and gentlemen, with India beginning to shift gears in sports, we recognize the importance of nurturing our next champions. And we also know that this is more than just medals at the Olympics. It is about creating a healthier and fitter nation.

As part of this, to recognize the nurseries of Indian sport, this year at TOISA, we have introduced a new award category: Change agent of the Year. This award will be given to any state, individual, institution or corporate that does path-breaking work towards promoting sports.

As Nelson Mandela said, “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down barriers.”

Building an inclusive India is a big motivation for us. This is why, last year, we were proud to include Para athletics as an award category. This year, we are honoured that India’s only two-time Paralympic gold medalist Devendra Jhajharia joined the TOISA jury.

Mahindra Scorpio TOISA 2018: All the winners

Nothing is more dynamic than the constant ebbs and flows of sports. At TOISA too, we constantly keep innovating and incorporating newer ideas. We realized coaching is important, but mentoring is equally, if not more important. So, this year, we have incorporated another new category called Mentor of the Year.

I would like to thank Abhinav Bindra, India’s only individual Olympics gold medallist in history for chairing the TOISA jury, and our distinguished jury members -- Gautam Gambhir, Bhaichung Bhutia, Devendra Jhajharia and Reeth Abraham for gracing it.

I welcome you all to TOISA 2018. Please join me in celebrating the outstanding sporting achievements of our champions. Let us wish them, the best of luck as they head into another big year for sports that would feature the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games and the Hockey World Cup.

I would now welcome, former World no. 1 and tennis legend, the incredible Stefan Edberg, as the mentor to this year’s Times of India Sports Awards.

Thank you
Sales Special Microsites