MAM
RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group & Virat Kohli announce the date of the second edition of the Indian Sports Honours (ISH)
MUMBAI: The second edition of the Indian Sports Honours, an initiative by Sanjiv Goenka, Chairman, RP-SG Group and Virat Kohli, will be held on 27th September 2019 at Dome, NSCI, SVP Stadium, Mumbai. The annual ceremony, which was supposed to be held in February, was postponed as a mark of respect to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans who were martyred in Pulwama in a terrorist attack.
Indian Sports Honours aim to recognize and honour Indian athletes for their exceptional performances, sportsmanship and spirit of sport through a felicitation ceremony. This year, 17 Honours will be given to athletes who have high achievements in their respective sport for the period of January – December 2018.
The winners of 11 categories (Jury Honours) were decided by ISH Jury members, which comprised of eminent leaders and sporting champions including the likes of Mr. Sanjiv Goenka, Pullela Gopichand, Abhinav Bindra, Sardar Singh, Mahesh Bhupathi, PT Usha and Anjali Bhagwat. Apart from the Jury Honours, there are six ‘Popular Choice Honours’ and winners were decided through an online voting process on Twitter. The nominations in all the categories were shortlisted by 200 journalists from Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI).
The ceremony will be a black-tie red-carpet event, with members of India’s sporting fraternity, celebrities and guests in attendance.
Mr. Sanjiv Goenka, Chairman, RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, said, “We are thrilled to host the second edition of the Indian Sports Honours. Indian athletes showcase hard work and perseverance consistently to put India on the world map for their sport. It is very important for us to recognize and celebrate these athletes in order to motivate them to continue their excellent performances.”
Mr. Bunty Sajdeh, CEO, Cornerstone Sport said, “In February Virat, Mr. Goenka and myself took a unanimous decision as a mark of respect to indefinitely postpone the Indian Sports Honours due to the horrific and tragic Pulwama attack that had just occurred. 7 months later we are proud to bring together again the second edition of the ISH to duly recognize our country’s top athletes on a global scale.”
Virat Kohli said, “Indian Sports Honours is a platform for multi-disciplinary sportspersons where sporting talent and achievements are recognized, promoted and celebrated in an unprecedented manner. I always believe that sports is an integral part of every individual’s life starting from school and eventually translating to supporting their favourite athletes on TV and during sporting events. I am confident that these awards are a stepping stone which will further encourage talent to excel in their own category of sports.”
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Indian Sports Honours Categories |
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Jury Honours |
Popular Choice Honours |
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Emerging Sportswoman |
Team of the Year |
Breakthrough Performance of the Year – Female |
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Emerging Sportsman |
Sportswoman of the Year (Team) |
Breakthrough Performance of the Year – Male |
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Differently Abled Sportswoman |
Sportsman of the Year (Team) |
Comeback of the Year |
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Differently Abled Sportsman |
Sportswoman of the Year (Individual) |
Spirit of Sport |
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Lifetime Achievement |
Sportsman of the Year (Individual) |
Fan Club of the Year |
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Coach of the Year |
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Club of the Year |
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As someone who has reviewed countless policies for families, I’ve seen a clear shift. Families are no longer satisfied with a plan that only activates during a hospital crisis. They want a partner for everyday wellness, and that’s what modern, comprehensive Health Plans for Family aim to be.
OPD Cover: The Game-Changer in Family Health Insurance
OPD, or Outpatient Department, cover handles expenses incurred outside of a hospital admission. This includes:
- Doctor consultation fees (General Physicians and Specialists)
- Diagnostic tests (blood work, X-rays, MRIs)
- Pharmacy bills (medicines prescribed)
- Minor procedures (dressing, injections)
Without OPD coverage, all these costs come directly from your monthly budget. A comprehensive Health Insurance with OPD Cover absorbs these shocks, transforming your policy from a seldom-used safety net into an active, year-round health management tool. For a family with children or aging parents, this isn’t a luxury; it’s a practical necessity.
Identifying the Best Family Health Insurance Plans In India with OPD
Not all OPD covers are created equal. When comparing Health Plans for Family, you must dig into the specifics. Here’s what separates the good from the truly valuable:
Integrated vs. Add-on Cover: Some of the Best Family Health Insurance Plans In India bundle OPD within the base plan (e.g., HDFC Ergo’s Optima Restore). Others offer it as a paid add-on rider. Integrated covers are often more seamless, but add-ons allow you to customize. Compare the sub-limits and overall value.
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Cashless OPD Network: The true convenience of health insurance with OPD cover is cashless access. Leading insurers have tied up with pharmacy chains, diagnostic centers, and clinic networks. You can walk in, show your card, and walk out without paying upfront. Check the insurer’s network partners in your locality.
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Key Players and What to Look For
Several insurers have pioneered strong family floater plans with OPD benefits. While new products emerge, plans like HDFC Ergo’s Optima Restore, ICICI Lombard’s Health Advantage Plus, and Niva Bupa’s ReAssure 2.0 have been notable for their structured OPD components. Star Health’s Family Health Optima also offers a comprehensive package.
However, the plan name is less important than its architecture. Your checklist for the Best Family Health Insurance Plans In India with OPD should verify:
Adequate In-patient Sum Insured: This is your core cover. Don’t compromise this for OPD. Start with at least ₹15-20 Lakh for a family of four.
Restoration Benefit: Crucial for families. It restores your main sum insured if exhausted, often including the OPD cover.
No Claim Bonus (NCB): Your reward for a healthy year should protect your OPD benefit too, often by increasing your overall sum insured.
Preventive Health Check-ups: A sign of a wellness-oriented insurer. Many top Health Plans for Family include free annual check-ups, complementing the OPD benefit.
Making the Smart Choice for Your Family
Choosing the right plan requires a simple audit. Tally your family’s average annual spend on doctor visits, tests, and medicines. You’ll likely find it’s a significant amount. Then, compare the premium of a comprehensive Health Insurance with OPD Cover against a basic plan plus your out-of-pocket OPD expenditure. The difference is often negligible, but the value is monumental.
For families, the Best Family Health Insurance Plans In India will be those that acknowledge the fact that the “real” journey for your family’s health occurs daily and not just during emergencies. By choosing a Family Health Insurance plan with meaningful OPD coverage, you will not only be insuring against your family getting sick, but also investing in your family’s ability to see their doctors or other healthcare providers on a more frequent basis for non-emergency issues and providing your family with a significant degree of peace of mind with regards to their financial and physical well-being. The shift away from reactive insurance to proactive insurance by families is now essential; it has become a necessity for the modern family that is living with intention.
