Sports
Sahara launches awards initiative to recognise Indian sports
MUMBAI: In an effort to give sports persons from various disciplines their due, Sahara has launched the Sahara India Sports Awards.
The aim of the awards is to felicitate achievements in different fields. The awards will also recognise the contribution of coaches, administrators and officials. The first edition takes place on 9 November.
Percept has helped conceptualise the event. Max is the broadcast partner while Kingfisher is the Airline partner. Sahara says that the new initiative cements its involvement with Indian sport. It already sponsors the Indian cricket and hockey teams. It is also sponsoring 56 sportspersons in wrestling, shooting, archery and boxing with the aim that India should win more medals in the 2012 Olympics in London. The group, among other things, supports the Calcutta Football League.
Speaking about the awards Sahara MD Subrata Roy Sahara notes that in this country sport still takes a back seat and does not get the much needed recognition and applause. “We feel that we need to encourage sportspersons and give an impetus to their talent by appreciating and facilitating it.”
There are 13 Jury members for the awards. Sunil Gavaskar is the chairman. The other members include Michael Ferreira, P Gopichand, Nandan Bal and Dilip Vengsarkar.
The Sahara India Sports Awards has several categories. The nominees for best team are the Indian Hockey team, Deccan Chargers, Churchill Brothers, Indian cricket team and Indian men’s archery team. Competing for sportsman of the year are Abhinav Bindra, Vishwanathan Anand and Jeev Milkha Singh. The nominees for sportswoman of the year are Mary Kom, Koneru Humpy and Saina Nehwal. The nominees for best male cricketer are Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni. The nominees for female cricketer of the year are Priyanka Roy, Mitali Raj, Rumeli Dhar and Gouher Sultana.
Sports
Sony Sports Network to broadcast 10 India cricket series
‘Goonjega India’ campaign brings non-stop Team India action from May 28 to Diwali across TV and Sony LIV.
MUMBAI: Sony Sports Network has just hit a massive six, it’s set to make Indian cricket goonjega louder than ever this season. Under its new campaign ‘Goonjega India’, the network will broadcast an unprecedented 10 major India series from 28 May 2026 right through to Diwali. Nine of them will also stream live on Sony LIV, giving fans wall-to-wall cricket across formats and borders.
The blockbuster calendar kicks off with the India Women’s Tour of England (3 T20Is and 1 Test in May-July), followed by the highly anticipated India Tour of England (5 T20Is and 3 ODIs in July exclusive to Sony Sports Network). The action rolls on with the India Tour of Sri Lanka in August, the India Tour of New Zealand in October-November, and both men’s and women’s T20 competitions at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan (17 September to 3 October). Rounding off the line-up are four key ACC events: the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026, U19 Men’s Asia Cup 2026 and U19 Women’s Asia Cup 2026.
Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer and business head of sports and international Rajesh Kaul said, “Cricket remains the biggest force in India’s sporting culture, and with Goonjega India, we are bringing fans an extraordinary run of Team India action from May 28 to Diwali. From the Women in Blue’s England tour to the men’s marquee clashes in England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand, alongside the Asian Games and major ACC tournaments, this is one of the most compelling cricket line-ups on Indian television.”
To build excitement, Sony Sports Network has released three high-energy animated films that celebrate the scale, emotion and rivalry of the season from the opening roar on 28 May to the Diwali blockbuster in New Zealand.
From the first ball in England to the final fireworks before Diwali, Indian cricket is about to echo across living rooms like never before. Whether you’re cheering for the Women in Blue, the Men in Blue or the rising U19 stars, Sony Sports Network has made sure there’s barely a day without a reason to shout “India! India!” This season, the calendar isn’t just packed, it’s perfectly pitched.
