The Indian Newslink Indian Sports Awards have had the privilege and advantage of widespread public support and patronage, significant among who are a number of national, regional and local companies.
Reposing confidence and trust in Indian Newslink, their readiness in sponsoring the various categories of the Awards has been the major source of strength for us.
“I found the concept of rewarding Sports achievers in our community innovative and enterprising and therefore agreed to support the project instantly,” Suresh Mani, Managing Director of Sailax and Freight Forwarding Limited said.
His Company chose to sponsor the ‘Best Netball Player of the Year’ category.
“We have a growing number of women taking up this sport and many of them have done well in the past few years. I am sure that the Awards will motivate and encourage many more to play the game and aim for achievements,” Mr Mani said.
He said the Awards Project was unique and that it would grow from strength to strength, evincing the wider interest of the communities.
“I was also inspired by the integrity, independence and professionalism of the panel of judges, as publicised in Indian Newslink. They are all achievers in their chosen field of sports and have been appropriately chosen,” Mr Mani said.
Promoting Kabaddi
Millions of Punjabis around the world take to Kabaddi, which is often described as a game that tests the patience, endurance and team spirit.
In sponsoring the ‘Best Kabaddi Player of the Year’ Award, the New Zealand Kabaddi Sports Federation aims to promote it among the younger members of the society throughout New Zealand.
“Such a need exists, because Kabaddi is played with passion and we need passionate sports people who are young and energetic, “ Virender Singh Bralli, President of the Federation said.
“Although Kabaddi is played throughout India and in some parts of South Asia, it is a game largely practiced and promoted in Punjab. There are ten clubs affiliated to our Federation from various parts of New Zealand and all of them provide opportunities for the youth to play the game in Gurdwara grounds,” he said.
Mr Bralli is a champion of the game, with several awards, citations and titles to his credit since he began playing Kabaddi as a teenager in his native Amritsar in Punjab, India. He has presented his school, university, district and many organisations over the years.
As well as playing for the Hamilton and Auckland teams in the past, he represented New Zealand at a Kabaddi tournament held in Australia in 2009.
“Our Association hopes to attract more youngsters to play Kabaddi through the Indian Newslink Indian Sports Awards,” Mr Bralli said.
On a good wicket
Sanjay Sharma, Managing Director of All Cold Refrigeration Limited, is a sports enthusiast committed to Cricket.
His Company is the sponsor of the ‘Best Under 21 Cricket Player of the Year’ category of our Sports Awards this year.
“I have been in New Zealand for over 25 years and seen Cricket played and followed with great interest by a cross-section of the society.
“Although I love soccer (like most Indo-Fijians), my interest in Cricket has grown stronger,” he said.
Mr Sharma has two other reasons for evincing more than casual interest in Cricket. His two sons Sanjeev (21) and Shaneil (15) are both cricket players.
“Shaneil has played for the Auckland Under 15 Cricket team,” he said with pride, adding, “I would like to see all our young people playing some sports or the other to remain physically and mentally fit. I have also noticed that sports enthuses discipline and a sense of purpose in people,” he said.
Strategic Alliance
The need to encourage, promote and reward achievers in sports has been emphasised by another businessperson based in Auckland.
Windfall Global Alliance (WGA) Group Director Anitha Sweety said that commercial entities must be involved in projects such as the Indian Newslink Indian Sports Awards.
“Such Awards serve a unique purpose of motivating people not only to pursue sporting activities but also remain physically fit. This is important in the modern world of stress and busy lifestyle,” she said.
WGA is the Sponsor of the ‘Best Male Hockey Player of the Year’ category.
WGA Group pursues excellence, offering quality products and services to a growing family of clients. The Group is involved in a number of areas including Education, Technology and Foreign Exchange.
Since its establishment in 2007, the Group has demonstrated diligence and dedication, fortified by vision and strategy to serve a cross-section of the country’s businesses, groups and individuals.
A postgraduate in Business Administration Ms Sweety has experience in multi-disciplines including international trade, education, healthcare management, computer engineering and microfinance.
