NEW DELHI: India's biggest and brightest sporting stars will be under one roof at the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2023 which will be held in Lucknow on February 23, 2024.
Honouring the top Indian athletes and their relentless pursuit for excellence, the sixth edition of TOISA will be award the stars who shone the brightest in 2023.
The theme of the awards -- #MoreSweatMoreGlory -- is a tribute to the indomitable spirit of our athletes and para-athletes across different sports.
The assessment period for the awards was from January 1 to December 31, 2023 and the list of award winners was drawn by the eminent TOISA 2023 Jury chaired by Adille Sumariwalla, who heads the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and is the vice-president of World Athletics.
Under the chairmanship of Adille, the TOISA 2023 Jury comprised of former long-jumper and senior vice-president of AFI, Anju Bobby George; badminton coach and two-time Padma awardee Pullela Gopichand; Olympic medal-winning wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt; Olympic medallist shooter and Indian Olympic Association vice-president Gagan Narang; Paralympic medallist and Padma Shri awardee Deepa Malik; Olympic medal-winning weightlifter Karnam Malleswari; and Zafar Iqbal, member of India's gold medal-winning hockey team at the 1980 Olympics.
Here's a look at the rowing stars nominated for the award.
Date of Birth: February 7, 1997
Place of Birth: Churu, Rajasthan
Sport: Rowing
Major Achievements in 2023:
Won silver in Men's Lightweight Double Sculls at Asian Games
Olympian Arjun Lal Jat, a distinguished Indian rower, clinched the silver medal in the Men's Lightweight Double Sculls at the Asian Games. His stellar performance exemplifies unparalleled dedication and skill in the challenging realm of rowing, elevating India's standing in the sport. Jat's achievement is a testament to his tenacity and sporting prowess.
Arvind Singh
Date of Birth: June 17, 1996
Place of Birth: Bulandshahar, Uttar Pradesh
Sport: Rowing
Major Achievements in 2023:
Won silver in Men's Lightweight Double Sculls at Asian Games
Arvind, a remarkable Indian rower, earned the silver medal in the Men's Lightweight Double Sculls at the Asian Games. His outstanding performance exemplifies his exceptional skill and dedication in the challenging sport of rowing, contributing significantly to India's success on the international stage. His achievement inspires aspiring athletes nationwide.
Ashish Kumar
Date of Birth: February 10, 1997
Place of Birth: Rajasthan
Sport: Rowing
Major Achievements in 2023:
Won silver in Men's Coxed Eight at Asian Games
Won bronze in Men's Coxless Four at Asian Games
Gold in Men's Coxless Four at National Games, Goa
Gold in Men's Coxless Four at National Championships
Gold in Men's Coxless Eight at National Championships
Gold in Men's Pair at Open Sprint National Rowing Championships
Finished fourth in the Men's Coxless Four at World Rowing Cup 1 in Croatia
Ashish, an exceptional Indian rower, demonstrated his prowess with a silver in the Men's Coxed Eight and bronze in the Men's Coxless Four events at the Asian Games. Nationally, he secured gold in the Men's Coxless Four at both the National Games in Goa and the National Championships. Ashish's dominance extended further with golds in the Men's Coxless Eight and Men's Pair at the National Championships and Open Sprint National Rowing Championships, respectively. Notably, he contributed to India's fourth-place finish in the Men's Coxless Four at the World Rowing Cup 1 in Croatia, showcasing his talent on the global stage.
Bheem Singh
Date of Birth: June 5, 1997
Place of Birth: Rajasthan
Sport: Rowing
Major Achievements in 2023:
Won silver in Men's Coxed Eight at Asian Games
Won bronze in Men's Coxless Four at Asian Games
Bheem earned silver in the Men's Coxed Eight and bronze in the Men's Coxless Four events at the Asian Games. Bheem's exceptional rowing skills and teamwork were instrumental in securing these prestigious medals, underscoring his significant contribution to India's success on the Asian stage.
Jaswinder Singh
Date of Birth: August 8, 1997
Place of Birth: Sangrur, Punjab
Sport: Rowing
Major Achievements in 2023:
Won silver in Men's Coxed Eight at Asian Games
Won bronze in Men's Coxless Four at Asian Games
Jaswinder, an accomplished Indian rower, clinched silver in the Men's Coxed Eight and bronze in the Men's Coxless Four events respectively at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Jaswinder's exceptional prowess and strategic contributions played a pivotal role in these impressive team achievements, showcasing his dedication to excellence in rowing on the prestigious Asian stage.
Punit Kumar
Date of Birth: August 8, 1994
Place of Birth: Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh
Sport: Rowing
Major Achievements in 2023:
Won silver in Men's Coxed Eight at Asian Games
Won bronze in Men's Coxless Four at Asian Games
Gold in Men's Four at National Championships
Gold in Men's Eight at National Championships
Gold in Men's Pair at Open Sprint National Rowing Championships
Punit, a stellar Indian rower, showcased remarkable prowess with a silver in the Men's Coxed Eight and bronze in the Men's Coxless Four events at the Asian Games. His achievements extended nationally, clinching gold in the Men's Four and Men's Eight at the National Championships and another gold in the Men's Pair at the Open Sprint National Rowing Championships. Punit's versatile skill set, leadership, and consistent success at both national and international levels underscore his dedication to the sport, making him a formidable force in Indian rowing and an inspiration for aspiring athletes across the country.
