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Voting begins for the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year award
BBC is back with its fourth edition of the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year (ISWOTY) Award 2022 to honour the achievements of Indian female players and a new award category introduced to honour the Indian Para Sportswoman Of The Year.
The nominees for the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year were announced today at a press conference in New Delhi.
• Mirabai Chanu, Weightlifter: The first Indian weightlifter to clinch a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, followed by a gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.
• Sakshi Malik, Wrestler: The first Indian woman wrestler who won a medal at the Rio Olympics, followed by a gold at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. She has won a silver and bronze at previous Commonwealth games.
• Vinesh Phogat, Wrestler: The first Indian woman to win two World Championship medals in wrestling, also the first to win gold at both Commonwealth and Asian Games. Her latest gold medal was won at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
• P V Sindhu, Shuttler: The first Indian woman to win two consecutive medals at the Olympics, bronze at the Tokyo Olympics and silver at the Rio Games. She ended 2021 with a silver at the Badminton World Federation World Tour finals.
• Nikhat Zareen, Boxer: After winning the Junior World Boxing Championship in 2011, she won a gold medal at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in 2022.
BBC news head, Rupa Jha, elaborated on BBC’s initiative of recognising women athletes’ achievements in more categories, “We are delighted to announce that this year we are introducing the BBC Indian Para Sportswoman Of The Year award,” she added, “This is to recognise and celebrate women para athletes and their terrific journey.”
Ekta Bhyan, para athlete and a gold medallist in 2018 Asian Para Games appreciated the BBC for rewarding para athletes and sending a powerful message that people with disabilities have talents and abilities which should be celebrated and recognised. She said, “Such recognition helps in increasing public awareness and inclusivity of para sports. I hope this leads to more opportunities for para athletes to compete and excel and inspire more people with disabilities to participate in sports.”
At the press conference, Vijender Singh Beniwal, first Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal in 2008 expressed delight that the achievements of Indian female players is being praised and their stories are now reaching people through the BBC’s initiative. He further added: “Our sportswomen have proven their calibre on the grounds time and again. They are the real fighters, it’s not easy to quantify how much respect they truly deserve.”
On March 5 2023, the winner of BBC ISWOTY will be announced at the awards ceremony. The BBC Emerging Player Of The Year award and the BBC Lifetime Achievement Player award will also be named and honoured along with the new category of Indian Para Sportswoman Of The Year.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
