BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year Award
Indian Sportswoman of the Year Award Trophy
Awarded forExcellence in sporting achievement
LocationTaj Palace Hotel, New Delhi
CountryIndia
Presented byBBC Hindi
First awarded8 March 2020 (2020-03-08)
Last awarded5 March 2023
Currently held byMirabai Chanu
Websitewww.bbc.com/hindi

The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) Indian Sportswoman of the Year Award (abbreviated as BBC ISWOTY) is an initiative first announced in December 2019 by BBC Hindi to celebrate and honour sportswomen from India who have excelled in their chosen field of competition.[1] The first edition of the awards took place in March 2020 where badminton star P. V. Sindhu was presented with the inaugural honour. The latest edition of the awards took place in March 2023 with Mirabai Chanu awarded the accolade for the second year in a row.[2][3][4][5]

Nomination and selection procedure

A jury of sports journalists, experts and BBC editors vote on a long-list of fifty Indian sportswomen nominated on the basis of their performance in a 12 month period preceding the year of the award. The five Indian sportswomen who receive the most votes proceed to a public vote. The public can cast their votes via various BBC Indian language websites on which the award is promoted and the BBC Sport website. The shortlisted nominee with the highest number of public votes is declared winner and awarded the title of "BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year".[6][7] Only the headline award is selected on the basis of a public vote, with the other three awards being decided by the jury alone.

First edition (2020)

Group photograph of BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year Award 2020 ceremony

The ISWOTY award was first instituted in 2020. The shortlisted nominees, announced in early February 2020,[8] who proceeded to the public vote were:

On 8 March 2020, to coincide with International Women’s Day, the BBC announced P. V. Sindhu as Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2019 at a ceremony held in Delhi.[14] Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (India) Kiren Rijiju was present as the guest of honour at the event. As a part of the program, retired track and field athlete P. T. Usha, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.[15][16][17]

First annual awards presented: 8 March 2020. Location: New Delhi
Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award
P. V. Sindhu (Badminton) P. T. Usha (Track and Field)

Second edition (2021)

The BBC announced its second edition of ISWOTY on 18 January 2021.[18] Nominees for the second edition of the award were revealed on 8 February that same year.[19][20] The shortlisted nominees who proceeded to the public vote were:

In a virtual ceremony held on 8 March 2021, the BBC named Koneru Humpy as Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2020. A lifetime achievement award was awarded to former long-jumper and Khel Ratna awardee Anju Bobby George.[26] This edition also marked the introduction of the Emerging Sportswoman of the Year Award which was presented by cricketer Ben Stokes to Manu Bhaker who had also been on the shortlist for the main award. [27]

A sports edit-a-thon was organised as part of the ISWOTY 2021, where journalism students from across the country created/improved articles on Indian sportswomen in various Indic language Wikipedias.[28][29]

Second annual awards presented: 8 March 2021. Virtual ceremony due to COVID-19. Host: Tim Davie
Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award Emerging Player of the Year Award 2020
Koneru Humpy (Chess) Anju Bobby George (Long jump) Manu Bhaker (Shooting)

Third edition (2022)

The BBC announced the third edition of ISWOTY on 17 January 2022.[30] The nominations for the third edition of the award were announced on 8 February for five Indian sportswomen who had an outstanding calendar year, from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021.[31] The shortlisted nominees[32] who proceeded to the public vote were:

At the awards ceremony held on 28 March 2022, Mirabai Chanu was announced as the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2021, with cricketer Shafali Verma given the accolade of Emerging Sportswoman of the Year.[38] The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to former weightlifter and Padma Shri recipient Karnam Malleshwari.[39]

Third annual awards presented: 7 March 2022. Location: New Delhi. Host: Tim Davie
Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award Emerging Player of the Year Award 2021
Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting) Karnam Malleshwari (Weightlifting) Shafali Verma (Cricket)

Fourth edition (2023)

The nominations for the fourth edition of the award were announced on 6 February 2023 for five Indian sportswomen who had an outstanding calendar year, from 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022.[40] The shortlisted nominees who proceeded to the public vote were:

At the awards ceremony held on 5 March 2023 at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi, Mirabai Chanu was announced as the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year for the second year in a row, with boxer Nitu Ghangas given the accolade of Emerging Sportswoman of the Year. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to former hockey player / coach and Dronacharya Award recipient Pritam Rani Siwach. This edition marked the introduction of the Indian Para Sportswoman for the Year Award which was presented to Bhavina Patel for her achievements in Table Tennis.[3][4][5]

India's Commonwealth gold medal-winning lawn bowls team, composed of Lovely Choubey, Rupa Rani Tirkey, Pinki Singh and Nayanmoni Saikia were also honoured at the ceremony, receiving a special trophy for their historic achievement. Bhagwani Devi and Rambai received Changemaker of the Year awards.[2]

In attendance at the ceremony were Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Dilip Tirkey, former captain of the India men's national hockey team and current President of Hockey India, Olympic boxing champion Vijender Singh and India's top-ranked table tennis player Manika Batra.

Fourth annual awards presented: 5 March 2023. Location: Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi
Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2022 Indian Para-sportswoman of the Year 2022
Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting) Bhavina Patel (Table Tennis)
Lifetime Achievement Award Emerging Player of the Year Award 2022
Pritam Rani Siwach (Hockey) Nitu Ghanghas (Boxing)

Winners

Edition Indian Sportswoman of the Year Sport
First P. V. Sindhu Badminton
Second Koneru Humpy Chess
Third Mirabai Chanu Weightlifting
Fourth Mirabai Chanu Weightlifting

Multiple nominations and wins

Sportswoman Sport Nominations Wins
Mirabai Chanu Weightlifting 2 (2022, 2023) 2
P. V. Sindhu Badminton 3 (2020, 2022, 2023) 1
Vinesh Phogat Wrestling 3 (2020, 2021, 2023) 0
Dutee Chand Track and Field 2 (2020, 2021) 0

See also

References

  1. ↑ "BBC to hold India Sportswoman of the Year contest". BBC News. 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  2. 1 2 "Chanu is BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  3. 1 2 "Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu wins BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year award". The Indian Express. 2023-03-05. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  4. 1 2 Nag, Utathya (5 March 2023). "BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2022: Mirabai Chanu wins second successive award - all winners". Olympics.com. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu wins BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year award". The Tribune (Chandigarh). 5 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  6. ↑ "BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year: Mary Kom, 4 others nominated". EastMojo. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "Online Voting Terms and Conditions". BBC News. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  8. ↑ Press Trust of India (3 February 2020). "Vinesh Phogat, Mary Kom among nominees for BBC Sportswoman of the year award". The Indian Express. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "No money, no shoes - Indian sprint star's rapid rise". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  10. ↑ "The inspiring recovery story of India's Manasi Joshi". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  11. ↑ "Meet the Indian boxer who transcends sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  12. ↑ "'Inspiring girls to wrestle means as much as a medal'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  13. ↑ "Fashion icon, Olympian, superstar - PV Sindhu's story". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  14. ↑ "PV Sindhu receives BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  15. ↑ "PV Sindhu named BBC Indian Sportswoman of Year". BBC. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "PV Sindhu wins 'BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year' award". The Times of India. Times Internet. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  17. ↑ "Sindhu named BBC Indian Sportswoman of Year". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  18. ↑ "BBC India Sportswoman of the Year contest returns". BBC News. 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  19. ↑ "Rani, Humpy, Manu nominated for BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year honour". Hindustan Times. 2021-02-08. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  20. ↑ "Indian Sportswoman of the Year nominees revealed". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  21. ↑ "'We represent a billion people when we play'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  22. ↑ "'I was told to cover my legs at training'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  23. ↑ "Meet Manu, the teenage shooting sensation". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  24. ↑ "The female chess master who relishes beating men". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  25. ↑ "'I train six times a day, I always have to win'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  26. ↑ "Humpy is BBC's Indian sportswoman of the year". The Hindu. 9 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-03-09. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  27. ↑ "Humpy is 2020 BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  28. ↑ "BBC India Sportswoman of the Year contest returns". BBC. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  29. ↑ "300+ entries of Indian sportswomen added to Wikipedia in BBC 'Sports Hackathon'". Media Brief. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  30. ↑ "BBC's Indian Sportswoman of the Year contest returns". BBC News. 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  31. ↑ "Indian Sportswoman of the Year nominees revealed". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  32. ↑ "BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year nominees revealed". BBC Sport. 2022-02-08. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  33. ↑ "'Golf chose me. It's the most fun thing I have'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  34. ↑ "'Muhammad Ali inspired me to win an Olympic medal'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  35. ↑ "'4am truck rides to training were the only option'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  36. ↑ "'Kitchen shooting helped me win Paralympic gold'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  37. ↑ "'I believe you can do anything in life'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  38. ↑ "Teenager Shafali Verma honoured with BBC award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  39. ↑ "Mirabai Chanu: Weightlifter is 2021 BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year". BBC Sport. 2022-02-08. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  40. ↑ "Vote for the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  41. ↑ "'I wanted to win so I could travel on a plane'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  42. ↑ "'I was questioned for wearing shorts in the ring'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  43. ↑ "'No picnics or holidays, just training, diet, sleep'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  44. ↑ "'I got a full diet only twice a week'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  45. ↑ "'It's not just months of hard work, it's years'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
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