NEW DELHI: The Times of India Sports Award powered by BHIM-UPI is a tribute to Indian sports persons. This award is an endeavour to honour the past, celebrate the present and nurture the future in Indian sports. After three successful editions, the fourth edition is now around the corner.
The timeline for
TOISA
2019, powered by BHIM-UPI, covers the year 2019 which had multiple World Cups and World Championships, across various sports. From
Manika Batra's rise to PV Sindhu winning a historic World Championship gold, to Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary dominating the Mixed Team events across all four shooting World Cups in 2019, to the Indian cricket team marking their tour of Australia, with India's first ever Test series win Down Under.
This year, the TOISA jury comprises of distinguished personalities, like former India hockey captain Zafar Iqbal, former football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, former India cricketer
Gautam Gambhir, former track star
Ashwini Nachappa
, two time Paralympic gold medallist
Devendra Jhajharia and Chief Editor of Times Internet Limited, Rajesh Kalra.
Nominees were shortlisted in multiple categories after meticulous research.
The jury members after an extensive jury meet adjudged winners in various categories this year, including special categories like Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Emerging player of the year and Sportsperson of the year.
Last year, in 2018, the third edition of the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) was held in Mumbai.
In what was a glittering ceremony, Vijay Amritraj was conferred the Lifetime achievement award, while Kidambi Srikanth bagged the coveted Sportsperson of the year award.
Meet the distinguished TOISA 2019 jury members:ZAFAR IQBAL | HOCKEY
1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal winner and former Indian hockey captain, Zafar Iqbal is one of the greatest Indian hockey players. He represented India at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok and was the captain of the team in the New Delhi Asian Games in 1982. He became the Indian coach after retirement and coached the team to the silver medal at the Asian Games in Hiroshima in 1994. He has received the Arjuna award and the Padma Shri for his invaluable contribution to Indian hockey.
BHAICHUNG BHUTIA | FOOTBALL
The torchbearer of Indian football in the international arena and arguably one of the most skilled Indian footballers ever, Bhaichung Bhutia, was the first football player from India to sign a professional contract with a European club. In a dazzling career, the former India captain and striker played over 100 international matches. On his accolades list are winning the Nehru Cup, LG Cup, SAFF Championship (thrice) and AFC Challenge Cup. The recipient of numerous awards, Bhaichung was also adjudged Indian Footballer of the Year thrice.
GAUTAM GAMBHIR | CRICKET
The former India opener was the highest run scorer in two of India's World Cup title victories in the finals (2007 World T20 and 2011 ODI World Cup). Gautam Gambhir has more than 10,000 international runs (Tests, ODIs and T20Is) under his belt and played over 200 international matches for India. Gambhir also led Delhi to the Ranji Trophy title in 2007-08 and the Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles. He is now a Member of Parliament.
DEVENDRA JHAJHARIA | PARA-ATHLETICS
Devendra Jhajharia was the first Indian para-athlete to win two medals (both golds) at the summer Paralympic Games. Jhajharia's achievements include winning gold medals at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, 2002 FESPIC Games in South Korea and 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships, apart from a silver at the same event in 2015 and one at the 2014 Asian Games. He has received the Arjuna award, the Padma Shri and the Khel Ratna.
ASHWINI NACHAPPA | ATHLETICS
1988 Arjuna award recipient and former track star Ashwini Nachappa outran PT Usha on two separate occasions. Ashwini represented India in three South Asian Federation Games and two Asian Games. She also participated in two World Championships.
RAJESH KALRA | CHIEF EDITOR, TIMES INTERNET LTD
An avid sportsman and journalist for over two decades, Rajesh Kalra is the Chief Editor of Times Internet. He is a member of the All-India Council of Sports and the PM's Olympic Task Force and is also a trained high-altitude mountaineer, a passionate mountain biker and a marathoner.
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