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BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year award returns with third edition
Mumbai: The third edition of BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year award is returning with the nominations being announced on 8 February. The award commemorates the achievements and contributions of outstanding Indian women in sports.
Audiences will be able to vote for their favourite Indian sportswoman from the five nominees shortlisted by a jury of sports journalists, experts and sportswriters. The online voting will take place globally on BBC Indian languages websites and on BBC Sport and the winner will be announced on 7 March, said the statement.
BBC will honour two other Indian sports stars with the ‘BBC Emerging player award’ which recognises new talent, and the ‘BBC Lifetime Achievement’ award, which goes to a legendary sports personality who has contributed exceptionally to the field of Indian sports.
“The year 2022 is special not only because we will be launching the third edition of ISWOTY, but we are also celebrating 100 glorious years of the BBC,” said BBC News head of India Rupa Jha. “This award ties in so well with the true spirit of the BBC to celebrate the fearless and the courageous. Once again, we come together to honour those women who triumphed against all odds and made the world more equal and fair.”
Indian chess player and the winner of BBC ISWOTY 2020 Koneru Humpy expressed her delight on the return of the award and said, “BBC ISWOTY is a wonderful initiative that encourages the younger generation, and boosts women players’ recognition. As a chess player when I was nominated by the BBC ISWOTY, I received a lot of recognition from India and all over the world.”
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.
