The evaluation period for the awards was the calendar year 2021. It included the last editions of the Olympics, Paralympics and Asian Championships, World Cups and World Championships.
Nominees were shortlisted in multiple categories across different sporting disciplines for men and women including para-sports after meticulous research for the TOISA 2021awards. The most coveted prize will of course once again be the prestigious Sportsperson of the Year award. There will also be a Lifetime Achievement award recipient.
Nominees for award categories of TOISA 2021 included the likes of Indian sporting stars like Neeraj Chopra, PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Sumit Antil, Avani Lekhara, Jasprit Bumrah, Smriti Mandhana, Jhulan Goswami, Gurjit Kaur, Sharath Kamal, Manika Batra, Lovlina Borgohain, Devendra Jhajharia, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, the Indian men’s cricket and hockey teams, the women’s hockey team, among others.
Distinguished sports personalities, including the likesof cricket allrounder and member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team Madan Lal, Olympic medal-winning shooter Gagan Narang, former hockey captain and Haryana sports minister Sandeep Singh, veteran Indian athlete Anju Bobby George, who was the first Indian athlete to win an athletics World Championships medal, Paralympic Games silver medallist Deepa Malik and Olympic medal winner and now professional boxer Vijender Singh were part of the jury this time which evaluated and picked the winners of TOISA 2021.
At the jury meet held in the capital recently, the jury members deliberated on the 2021 achievements of some of India’s elite athletes, across sports. While the winners in some categories were decided easily, the jury members took time and had extensive discussions before finalising a unanimous winner in some other categories.
“The Times of India Sports Awards are one of the best awards where athletes from different sporting disciplines share the same stage and are honoured for their performances. It is a very big thing to appreciate the athletes for their performances and the Times of India has been appreciating and honouring the athletes. I was part of TOISA last time and before that as well and these awards are a very big step in terms of honouring our country’s athletes,” said former India hockey captain Sandeep Singh.
Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2021 to honour the champions of Indian sports
Talking about the experience of being part of the TOISA 2021 jury, Olympic medallist Gagan Narang said, “Awards are a form of motivation for any athlete performing at the highest level for the country. Awards motivate the athletes. The Times of India hosting these awards will be a great inspiration and motivation for the athletes who are going to win (and also) those who were nominated. The jury meeting was a great process and we had fun.”
The who’s who of the Indian sporting fraternity will be in attendance at the TOISA 2021 awards ceremony this evening. Current stars to some of the biggest legends of Indian sport will walk the awards red carpet.
It is of course very important that the achievements of our athletes are celebrated. Paralympic silver medallist and president of the Paralympic Committee of India Deepa Malik echoed that sentiment at the jury meeting.
“It’s a very responsible job (being a jury member) and it gives me an opportunity to give back to sport, to encourage talents who have achieved and given their best to emerge as role models and sporting icons in the country, giving direction, hope, inspiration to many other sportspersons who are now thinking of devoting their time to sports. Jeet ka jashn bahut zaruri hota hai (it’s very important to celebrate victory),” she said.
Overall there were over 100 nominees across multiple sports categories for TOISA 2021. Apart from individual athletes being honoured, awards will also be given for Coach of the Year and Team of the Year categories.
“It was a different experience being part of the Times of India Sports Awards jury. Awards are very important for the players. Once you start recognizing athletes, they get motivation to do well. I believe motivation is important for athletes to achieve higher goals,” said Madan Lal.
The last edition of TOISA saw PV Sindhu walk away with the coveted Sportsperson of the Year award, while Bhaichung Bhutia received the Lifetime Achievement award.
TOISA 2021 jury member Anju Bobby George said, “The Times of India Sports awards was an opportunity for us to choose the best sports persons. Winning a medal is for the country and awards are recognition of achievements, so awards are important for athletes. “?
To know more about TOISA 2021 visit – www.toisa.in
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