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Indian Sports Honours returns with its ‘biggest ever’ fourth edition
Mumbai: The fourth edition of the prestigious Indian Sports Honours (ISH) is set to take place on Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Mumbai. The special event, which celebrates and recognises the spirit of sportsmanship and is conceptualised by Cornerstone, will honour top athletes from various sports who performed exceptionally well between January 1st, 2021 and February 28th, 2023. The ISH returns after a two-year absence, and the 2023 edition is expected to be the largest yet. Star Sports Network will broadcast the event.
Indian Sports Honours has partnered with Ernst & Young LLP (EY) acting as the process advisors to oversee and validate the entire selection and jury process with inputs from Sportskeeda. The jury panel includes chief national coach for the Indian Badminton team and former All-England champion Pullela Gopichand, along with 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Abhinav Bindra and former Indian Hockey Captain Sardar Singh. In addition to the distinguished jury members, Indian boxer and Olympian Vijender Singh, legendary athlete P.T. Usha, former world number one shooter Anjali Bhagwat, and Disney + Star sports head Sanjog Gupta will also be part of the panel.
Top performing athletes will be shortlisted, selected, and awarded through 10 ‘Jury Honours’, six ‘Popular Choice Honours’ and one ‘Lifetime Achievement Honour’. The esteemed honours have a careful screening process in place wherein Sportskeeda will provide data for the jury, EY will further ratify the data and will share top four nominees in each category which will again be verified by Sportskeeda. Then the shortlisted nominees are shared with the Jury for selection of final winners. The winners of the six popular choice honours will be decided through an online poll which is already live on Twitter.
Jury Honours: Differently Abled Sportsman of the Year, Differently Abled Sportswoman of the Year, Emerging Sportsman of the Year, Emerging Sportswoman of the Year, Coach of the Year, Team of the Year, Sportsman of the Year (Individual), Sportswoman of the Year (Individual), Sportsman of the Year (Team), and Sportswoman of the Year (Team).
Popular Choice Honours: Incredible Young Performer of the Year in T20 League, Incredible Performance of the Year in T20 League, Fan Club of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Club of the Year, and Electrifying Performance of the Year.
Cornerstone Sport CEO Bunty Sajdeh said, “It gives us immense pleasure to bring back Indian Sports Honours. With these honours, we aim to recognise some of the best sporting talent and acknowledge the story of blood, sweat and success to a larger audience. The overwhelming response from sports fans has inspired us immensely and ensures we make the event bigger and better every year.”
Indian Sports Honours pays tribute to the unwavering passion for sports in India. The event brings together the entire Indian sports community, including legendary athletes, sports journalists, and passionate fans, who come together to recognise the dedication and talent of the country’s athletes.
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.
