The Indian Newslink Indian Sports Awards 2013 programme is gathering momentum with a number of organisations and individuals evincing interest.
Entries to this year’s Sports Awards would close at 6 pm on March 8, 2013.
A panel of judges, independent of this newspaper and its management, will evaluate the entries and announce the finalists and winners at a gala Presentation Ceremony, to be held on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at ASB Stadium in Kohimarama, Auckland.
Details of the event will be announced in due course.
The best achievers
Nimesh Amin, Managing Director of Panworld Travel Mangere and Pakuranga, Title Sponsor of the Indian Newslink Indian Sports Awards 2013, said that he and his company were privileged to be involved in “a programme that brings the best of our sportsmen and sportswomen.”
“These Awards not only enable people to enter in various categories in a competitive spirit, but also bring together the members of the community to applaud the success of our people. It is important to be active, and physical fitness, which leads to mental fitness, cannot be over-emphasised in the modern world of stress,” he said.
A keen cricket enthusiast, Mr Amin also follows Rugby Union and Rugby League.
“I am happy to learn that the Awards programme has categories to recognise and reward achievers in a number of sporting games,” he said.
There are 15 individual categories in this year’s Award programme (see advertisement on this page for details) including Soccer, Netball, Hockey, Rugby, Cricket, Golf, Boxing and Kabaddi, in addition to the ‘Best Sports Administrator.’
Winners in the individual categories will automatically qualify for the ‘Best Sportsman’ and ‘Best Sportswoman of the Year,’ Awards.
Steven Smith, Convenor of the Panel of Judges said that he was looking forward to the judging process as well as the Awards Night.
“As the Chief Judge, I was highly impressed with the calibre of the nominations received in various categories of the inaugural Indian Newslink Indian Sports Awards 2012. It was also pleasing to observe the members of the Indian community getting involved in sports,” he said.
High credibility
Mr Smith said that he was happy that a number of New Zealand Representatives were honoured in individual categories at the Awards Night held on May 12, 2012.
“Having achieved the requisite credibility and integrity, I am sure that the Indian Newslink Indian Sports Awards will get bigger and better year after year,” he said.
Twelve achievers in as many categories received their honours in addition to the Best Sportsman and Best Sportswoman of the Year Awards last year. Humour, entertainment and fellowship were among the highlights of the evening.
Veteran Cricket and Hockey Player and Coach Ramesh Patel, who was among the Guests of Honour at the Ceremony, said that competitive spirit and the ‘will to win’ were central to success in any sport.
“The same would apply to such an Award,” he said, speaking at the event.
“Intuition is also important for success in a game but it is difficult to teach this quality. Intuition comes with experience, along with commitment, discipline, seriousness and concentration,” he said.
Among the other Guests of Honour were veterans Praven Jeram (Soccer) and Vilimaina Davu (Netball).
Conditions of Entry
The Indian Newslink Indian Sports Awards 2013 are open to sportspersons of Indian origin (those qualifying for ‘People of Indian Origin Card’ or ‘Overseas Citizenship of India’ status recognised by the Indian Government). Entrants must be either citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand.
Entries to various categories are only by nomination through recognised and registered sports clubs, associations and organisations in New Zealand.
Entrants must enter only the category relevant to them and must be endorsed by a sports club, association or organisation in the prescribed official entry form. Entries from individual players and in format not prescribed will not be accepted.
Entry forms and other details can be obtained from Ravin Lal, Managing Director and Publisher, Indian Newslink on (09) 5336377 or on mobile 021-753699. Email: ravin@indiannewslink.co.nz
Completed forms must be sent by email only to smiityswv72@yahoo.co.nz on or before 6 pm on March 8, 2013. Entries received after this date and time will not be accepted.
Entries sent by any other means to any other address will not be considered.
There are 15 individual categories, entries to which should be separately entered. Winners in each of the categories will be evaluated for the ‘Indian Newslink Indian Sportsman and Indian Sportswoman of the Year Award 2013’’
