The idea to launch the Indian Sports Awards germinated in the minds of the Indian Newslink team when we realised the tremendous contributions made to various fields of sports by people of Indian origin in New Zealand.
These sportspersons were pursuing their dream of excelling in their chosen sport with vigour, achieving good results. The Indian Newslink Indian Sports Awards were created to showcase their achievements and provide them with a platform which recognises their excellence.
Great motivator
Recognition is a great motivator for sportspersons. Through our Awards, judged by a panel independent of this newspaper, we seek to reaffirm our appreciation and support for sportspersons. We also want to draw the attention of commercial entities towards these gifted individuals. Their support is essential in a sportspersons quest for glory, and in ensuring that their sporting ambitions are not disrupted by a lack of financial resources.
Excellent infrastructure
New Zealand offers an excellent sporting infrastructure. Talent, coupled with hard work, are the only criterion for achieving success in the world of Kiwi Sport and our education system encourages all-round growth.
Some sportspersons do not excel in sports by ignoring their studies. They have worked hard to balance these integral elements of their lives, with full support of educational and sporting bodies.
New generation
The result is that we are witnessing a generation of educated and talented sportspersons of Indian origin. We also hope that the winners of our awards act as role models for the wider Indian community.
Parents need not worry if their children express a desire to pursue sport as a full time career. These champions are proof that sports can be viable vocations. The trickle-down effect of this is a fit young Indian community; successfully fighting the menace of obesity, which is widely prevalent in New Zealand.
Sport is a great medium to learn the virtues of teamwork and discipline.
A sportsperson is a balanced individual adaptable to all surroundings and a productive member of the society.
Our heartiest congratulations to all winners of the Third Indian Newslink Indian Sport Awards, and we wish them all the best in their sporting careers.
