The Indian males’s badminton staff, which emerged as the champion of the 2022 Thomas Cup, received the ‘National team of the year’ award at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2023 at The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai on Monday.
Lakshya Sen, member of the profitable staff, acquired the award from former India cricket staff captain Kapil Dev. Vimal Kumar, the supervisor of the Indian badminton staff, and Lakshya’s father D.Okay. Sen, had been additionally current on stage.
“Winning the Thomas Cup was a big collective effort from all team members. We can relate a lot to the 1983 Cricket World Cup team,” Lakshya stated.
Lakshya additionally received the ‘Sportsman of the year (racquet sports)’ award, together with desk tennis star Sharath Kamal.
Odisha received the ‘Best State For the Promotion of Sports’ award. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik acquired the award.
“I would like to thank The Hindu Group and Sportstar magazine for this honourable award. In Odisha, we have tried to do a great deal for hockey in the last few years — in the last 15 months, we have built the largest hockey stadium in the world. We believe investment in sports is an investment in youth, and investment in youth is an investment in the future,” Patnaik stated.
Also learn: Over the years, we’ve got grown from teammates to household, says Gavaskar
Shyam Thapa, considered one of India’s most interesting soccer strikers, acquired the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’. Thapa was felicitated by former India soccer captain Bhaichung Bhutia.
Thapa was half of the staff which received a historic bronze medal at the 1970 Asian Games. “At 74, I’m still coaching young footballers at academies. I am still hopeful that one day, India will play in a FIFA World Cup,” Thapa stated.
The 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) champion Gujarat Titans received the ‘Club of the year’ award. Arvinder Singh, Gujarat Titans Chief Operating Officer, acquired the award.
Gavaskar heads jury
The jury panel was headed by legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar.
Olympic gold medal-winning shooter Abhinav Bindra, former India hockey captain M.M. Somaya, chess nice Viswanathan Anand, former India soccer skipper Bhutia and Olympians Anjali Bhagwat and Aparna Popat had been the different members of the jury.
Corporate assist
The occasion was supported by IDFC First Bank, Indian Oil, India Cements, United India, Ramaiah University, Experimenta Science Center, G.D. Naidu Charity, Finolex Pipes, LIC, BPCL, Samsonite, Big Basket, Nippon Paint, CRICHQ, Wordswork, NewsX and Casagrand.